Bullpen problems late in the game turned a game that started well into a nightmare.
The Mets blew a huge lead in a 8-7 loss, their first truly ugly game of the season. Tylor Megill was awesome and the total production of the offense was quite good. Missed opportunities, defensive miscues, and poor bullpen performance ultimately sunk them however, and the Nationals won via walkoff for the second time in three days.
It was a fast start for the offense, with the Mets batting around in the first. Francisco Lindor got things started with a leadoff single, and Mark Vientos drove in the first run of the game with a bases loaded sac-fly after a couple of walks. Another sac fly from Brandon Nimmo drove in the second run, and singles from Luis Torrens and Luisangel Acuña built the lead to 5-0 before Tylor Megill even stepped on the mound.
The offense went dormant for stretches of this game but did score a couple more times. A blistered line drive from Juan Soto in the second led to a run. Luis Torrens drove in another in the fifth with an opposite field double of his own. Missed opportunities, the most glaring of which came in the ninth, loomed large later on.
For his part, Megill made that lead stand up. He allowed three runs in 6.1 innings of work, striking out nine and walking only one. It really should’ve been only a single run allowed, but Juan Soto struggled with the sun and allowed a double to fall in the seventh, opening the door for the latter two Nats runs. The outing actually raised his ERA on the season, demonstrating just how superb he’s been so far in 2025.
Unfortunately, the bullpen insisted on making it interesting. That seventh inning which started with the Soto misplay led to five Nationals runs, as Jose Butto struggled. Huascar Brazoban loaded the bases but managed to escape – barely – in the eighth. Ryne Stanek wasn’t so lucky. A leadoff double came around to score to tie in the ninth, and an error from Pete Alonso allowed the Nats to walk things off.
This should’ve been the Mets’ 20th win of the season. Instead, it’s their first brutal loss. Objectively these games will happen, even if they feel terrible in the moment; best to just shake it off and remember this Met team is still very very good.
Griffin Canning will square off against former Met Trevor Williams in the finale of the wraparound series tomorrow afternoon.
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Big Mets winner: Luis Torrens, +16.3% WPA
Big Mets loser: Ryne Stanek, -80.3% WPA
Mets pitchers: -78.8% WPA
Mets hitters: +28.8% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Garcia reaches on a throwing error by Pete Alonso as CJ Abrams scores the walkoff run, -29.4% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Luis Torrens singles to drive in two in the first, +14.3% WPA