Mets Lose To Nationals 9-3 After Manaea and Bullpen's Struggles Continue

 

Mets DH Starling Marte (Photo Credits to SNY.TV)

The New York Mets lost to the Washington Nationals 9-3 at Nationals Park this afternoon to lose two out of three games in the series and dropped their record to 67-60.

LHP Sean Manaea dominated through the first three innings, striking out seven of the first 10 hitters he faced allowing one hit, but it fell apart after that.

Manaea began the bottom of the fourth with a strike-out, but catcher Hayden Senger was unable to catch the sweeper, which allowed SS C.J. Abrams to reach first. Later in the inning, Manaea gave up a hit and pitch and single to load the bases and then gave up a RBI ground-out to 2B Dylan Crews.

Manaea was let down by his defense once again in the bottom of the fifth after a lead-off single, CF Jacob Young bunted to 1B Pete Alonso who tried to get to second to get the lead-out instead of the sure out at first, but was unable to make the play. 

Manaea then had another hit by pitch to load the bases and gave up a sacrifice fly to 2B Paul Dejong to tie the game.

Manaea walked the following hitter 1B Andres Chaparro and was taken out with the bases loaded.

RHP Tyler Rogers came in next and gave up a two-run single to catcher Riley Adams.

Manaea's final line was 4.2 innings, three hits, four runs, one walk and eight strikeouts.

Rogers gave up a RBI single to Young in the bottom of the sixth and was then taken out.

LHP Brooks Raley followed with 1.1 scoreless innings.

RHP Ryne Stanek came on in the bottom of the eighth and had a rough outing allowing a RBI single to 3B Brady House and later a three-run homer to DH James Wood.

The Met offense got off to a fast start in the top of the first after SS Francisco Lindor led off with a homer.

In the top of the third, DH Starling Marte hit a solo homer with two outs.

In the top of the fourth, 2B Brett Baty singled with one out and then LF Tyrone Taylor followed with a walk.

CF Cedric Mullins then walked to load the bases and Senger drove in Baty with a sacrifice fly.

The offense was unable to score any more runs after that and went 1-6 with runners in scoring position leaving eight runners on base. 

The Mets next game is tomorrow night, Friday, August 22 at the Atlanta Braves at 7:15 p.m.