Mets Swept, Remain Winless in 2014

The Mets are settling into a bad pattern — not terrible starting pitching, extremely terrible bullpen and a feeble offense as they fall to 0-3 on the young season.

For the third straight game the Mets got on the board in the first against the Nationals. Daniel Murphy, back from his ridiculously controversial paternity leave, singled with one out. David Wright then lofted an easy pop to center, but Denard Span lost it in the sun and it went for a single. Curtis Granderson then came through with his first hit as a Met, a double that scored Murphy and moved Wright to third. Wright would score on a Juan Lagares sacrifice fly to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead.

Ryan Zimmerman got one of the runs back in the top of the second with a long solo home run to left off of Zack Wheeler.

The Nationals took the lead in the fifth. Wheeler walked leadoff batter Sandy Leon, who was sacrificed to second. Span made up for his misplay with a single to tie the game at two. He went to second on the throw home. He later advanced to third and scored on a Jayson Werth single to make it 3-2 Nats.

Wheeler made it through six innings and 114 pitches, allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out six batters and walked two.

Then it was the bullpen’s time to shine. Scott Rice gave up a leadoff single to pinch hitter and former Met Scott Hairston. He was sacrificed to second. Bryce Harper hit a hard smash that ricocheted off of Rice’s leg to put runners on first and third. Rice was okay, but with the righty Werth coming up, Terry Collins removed him in favor of Jeurys Familia. He walked Werth and Adam LaRoche followed with a single to plate two. Ryan Zimmerman then singled to drive in another run and give the Nationals a 6-2 lead. A throwing error by Murphy, his second error of the game, on a potential inning-ending double play brought home yet another run.

Carlos Torres pitched the eighth and allowed a run on a bases loaded walk as the Nationals extended the lead to 8-2.

After striking out 18 and 13 times, respectively, in the first two games, the offense struck out “only” eight times on Wednesday. It managed seven hits after just three hits the previous game.

Mets lose 8-2.