Mets Lost to Nationals 7-1 after bats go quiet

Mets catcher James McCann (Credits to Brad Penner-USA Today Sports) The New York Mets lost to the Washington Nationals 7-1 at Citi Field this afternoon and dropped their record to 8-8. RHP Marcus Stroman gave up a lead-off single to 2B Josh Harrison in the top of the first and then RF Michael Conforto made an error which allowed Harrison to advance to third. Stroman then gave up a sacrifice fly to the following hitter LF Yadiel Hernandez. He had struggled with his command in the top of the second after giving up a couple of walks and then later allowing a single to Nationals starter RHP Joe Ross. Stroman's difficulities continued in the top of the third inning after he gave up singles to Hernandez and SS Trea Turner and then two batters later a RBI single by LF Kyle Scwarber and another RBI single to SS Starlin Castro. He gave up a RBI single to Hernandez in the top of the fourth and was taken out after the inning. His final line was 4 innings, 8 hits, 5 runs ( 4 earned runs), 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. LHP Stephen Tarpley came in next in the top of the fifth for his season debut and got into immediate trouble allowing two singles and a walk to load the bases. Tarpley hit catcher Alex Avilia with the bases loaded to bring in a run and was taken out. RHP Robert Gsellman had to come in the top of the fifth and had his outing out of the bullpen all year with three scoreless innings in the top of the fifh, sixth and seventh. Gsellman gave up no hits with one walk and two strikeouts. RHP Jacob Barnes threw a scoreless top of the eigth inning. RHP Jeurys Familia threw a scoreless top of the ninth inning. The offense struggled against Nationals starter RHP Joe Ross and had six hits all day. They went 0-3 with runners in scoring postion and left seven men on base. Conforto drove in the only run with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. The Mets next game is tomorrow at home against the Nationals at 1:10 p.m.