Mets burned by home run robbery early, go-ahead homer late 

NEW YORK – The Mets had a hard time figuring out Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams. He was already 4-for-8 in the three-game series entering Thursday’s game. The problems continued for New York as Abrams’ go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning helped Washington edge New York, 5-4, at Citi Field.

Earlier in the game, right fielder James Wood robbed Juan Soto of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall.

But thanks to a three-run homer from MJ Melendez in the third and an RBI double from Mark Vientos in the sixth, the Mets had a 4-3 lead going into the top of the eighth inning with Luke Weaver on the mound. With one out and Daylen Lile on first base, Abrams swung at a 2-1 changeup and hit a two-run homer over the right-field wall to give Washington the two-run lead. Abrams went 2-for-3 with a walk.

New York had a chance to at least tie the score in the bottom of the inning. After Juan Soto reached base on a leadoff double off Richard Lovelady, the Mets stranded Soto at second. Austin Slater grounded out, then Vientos lined out. Right-hander Gus Varland entered the game for Washington and induced Tyrone Taylor to fly out to Lile in left field.

It was a game that saw right-hander Freddy Peralta pick up his third no-decision of the season. He doesn’t have problems completing five innings this season. But he has had problems completing that sixth inning. It had happened only once prior to Thursday.

That inning has been a bugaboo for Peralta because he finds himself in deep counts and nibbling around the plate. Entering Thursday’s action, opposing hitters had a slash line of .273/.467/.364 with an .830 OPS.

Even though Peralta did manage to get through the sixth, the later bullpen struggles helped hand the Mets their 21st loss of the season.