Mets Lose to Nationals 3-2 After Bullpen Blows Lead

Mets RHP Jose Butto (Photo Credits to Brad Mills-USA Today Sports)

 The New York Mets lost to the Washington Nationals 3-2 tonight at Nationals Park to snap their two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 64-75.

The Met offense got on the board immediately in the top of the first after CF Brandon Nimmo led off with a double and then SS Francisco Lindor followed with a RBI single.

The bats did not do much for next three innings until the top of the fifth after Lindor led off with a double and then four batters later, DH Mark Vientos came through with a RBI single.

The Met offense was unable to score after that and wasted several scoring opportunities.

They had scoring chances in the top of the first, second, third, fifth and sixth but were unable to capitalize and went 2-12 with runners in scoring position.

RHP Jose Butto had a strong start and left the bottom of the sixth with a 2-0 lead.

RHP Trevor Gott came in next and gave up two inherited runs charged to Butto on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Ildemaro Vargas and SS CJ Abrams.

Butto's final line was 6.1 innings, six hits, two runs, one walk and six strikeouts.

Gott picked up the last two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

LHP Brooks Raley threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

RHP Phil Bickford came on in the bottom of the ninth and got into immediate trouble after he walked 3B Carter Kieboom and then hit 2B Jake Alu.

After a sacrifice bunt, Bickford gave up a walk-off single to CF Jacob Young.

The Mets are off tomorrow and return back to action on Friday, September 8 at the Minnesota Twins at 8:10 p.m.