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.
It was a game that saw right fielder James Wood rob Juan Soto of a home run with a leaping catch at the wall in the first inning, which turned out to be one of the turning points in the game.
“He had an unbelievable game defensively,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "That first inning – that ball from Soto – when you watch the replay, man [Wood] got up there. The timing was perfect. But, overall, all the plays that he made, it is one of the reasons they ended up winning the game.”
At first, it looked like Wood’s catch wasn’t going to matter. Thanks to a three-run homer from MJ Melendez in the third and an RBI double from Mark Vientos three innings later, 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 one-run lead. Abrams went 2-for-3 with a walk.
“It was a hanging changeup there. It got too much over the plate. … [Weaver] probably wants that pitch back, and it costs us,” Mendoza said.
Weaver’s disappointment on the mound gets magnified because the Mets are not winning many games these days.
“I’ve been sitting here trying to think about what to even say [to the reporters] or what you are even going to ask and come up with something,” Weaver said. “... I just want to do my job. It’s that simple.”
New York had a chance to at least tie the score in the bottom of the inning. After Soto reached base on a leadoff double off former Met 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.
Right-hander Freddy Peralta picked 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 in the sixth against him.
Even though Peralta walked two batters in the sixth, he managed to get through the frame, thanks to a visit from pitching coach Justin Willard.
“It was just me. I’m not going to lie. [After the walks], I was just focused and said to myself, ‘I have to get the job done’ and I was able to do it. I’m still getting better. I know there is a lot more [to come],” Peralta said.
But the bullpen struggles in the eighth helped hand the Mets their 21st loss of the season and their sixth loss during the nine-game homestand.
The Mets currently have the worst record in baseball, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they have to get back on track.
“It’s not good enough, obviously. Not a secret,” the skipper said. “That’s not going to do it. We have to start winning series, period.”
Lately, Mendoza has been fielding questions about his job security. He acknowledged it has been hard for him and the team.
“We are in this together. It’s not easy,” he said. “But we have to keep going. There are no other choices. We have a responsibility. We have to turn this thing around. It’s not early anymore. Obviously, it’s frustrating for a lot of people here.”