Mets Lose to Nationals 2-1 After Offense Struggles Once Again

Mets RF Michael Conforto (Photo Credits to Robert Sabo-Nypost.com) The New York Mets lost to the Washington Nationals 2-1 tonight at Citi Field for their fourth consecutive loss and dropped their record to 61-67. LHP Rich Hill started out well with two scorless innings, but ran into trouble in the top of the third after he gave up a lead-off single to Nationals starting pitcher RHP Paolo Espino and then hit CF Victor Robles. Hill then gave up a single to SS Alcides Escobar to load the bases and then allowed a RBI ground-out to RF Juan Soto. Hill then gave up a RBI single to 1B Josh Bell. Hill was able to settle down after that with scoreless innings in the top of the fourth and fifth and was then taken out. His final line was 5 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks and 8 strikeouts. RHP Heath Hembree followed with a scoreless top of the sixth. RHP Miguel Castro then threw a scoreless top of the seventh. RHP Jeurys Familia threw a scoreless top of the eighth. RHP Edwin Diaz threw a scoreless top of the ninth. The offense was held scoreless for the first three innings until 2B Javier Baez hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. The bats went quiet for the next few innings until the bottom of the eighth when pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil singled with two outs, but then CF Brandon Nimmo popped out to end the inning. In the bottom of the ninth, 1B Pete Alonso led off with a walk, but then SS Francisco Lindor grounded into a fielder's choice and Baez groudned into a double play to end the game. The Mets next game is tomorrow night at home against the Nationals at 7:10 p.m.