Nats have their moments, but can't cash in against Mets (2024)

WASHINGTON -- In a division matchup with a combined 15 runs, 24 hits, 20 runners left on base, three errors and 10 pitchers, it can be a small moment in a three-hour-and-18-minute game that has the biggest impact.

The Nationals’ 8-7 loss to the Mets on Monday night at Nationals Park exemplified that.

“Like I always say, it’s one little thing,” manager Dave Martinez said. “One walk, one ball falls -- for us, it’s a different game.”

The Nats (11 runners left on base) went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position; the Mets (nine runners left on base) were 3-for-10 in the same scenario. Within that, both teams had two innings with bases-loaded opportunities. Let’s take a look at how those scenarios played out in the series opener.

Top of second inning

Outs: Two
Pitcher: LHP MacKenzie Gore

Gore threw 29 pitches and faced seven batters in the second inning. Trailing, 1-0, on a Harrison Bader sacrifice fly that drove in Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias came to the plate with Mark Vientos on first base (walk). Gore allowed a single to Iglesias before whiffing Luis Torrens swinging to record the second out. But Gore hit Francisco Lindor with a slider to load the bases.

Gore faced Pete Alonso and won the matchup, getting Alonso to fly out on a curveball and end the inning without further damage.

Outcome: No runs scored, bases left loaded

Top of fifth inning

Outs: One
Pitcher: Gore/RHP Dylan Floro

After the Nationals took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning on a two-run homer by Joey Gallo, Gore found himself in his second bases-loaded jam.

With one out, Gore walked J.D. Martinez and yielded a single to Marte. Following a mound visit, Gore delivered a wild pitch that advanced runners to second and third base. A second walk to Vientos, who homered in the fourth inning, loaded the bases.

Martinez made the call to the bullpen for Floro. The righty entered with a career 0.87 ERA against the Mets.

Bader hit a game-tying sacrifice fly to center field, his second of the game, and Iglesias grounded a go-ahead single into left field. Torrens then connected for his first double of the season off a slider that cleared the bases and ballooned the Nationals’ deficit to three runs.

“It was just not good,” Gore said of his 12th start of the season. “I didn’t execute well, really throughout the outing. I wasn’t able to make pitches when I needed to kind of get out of that traffic.”

Outcome: Four runs scored, one runner left on base

Bottom of the fifth inning

Outs: Two
Pitcher: RHP Tylor Megill

The Nats responded by loading the bases, too, in their next turn at the plate. Eddie Rosario got the offense going with a one-out single to right field. Keibert Ruiz advanced him to second with a two-out line drive to right. The Mets made a mound visit, and Nick Senzel responded by working a six-pitch walk to load the bases.

Jesse Winker saw four consecutive balls to draw the walk off Megill and score Rosario. With the bases still loaded, Ildemaro Vargas lined out to left field.

“It’s just baseball, man,” Winker said. “You try to take positives from every game. We had a lot of really good ABs tonight.”

Outcome: One run scored, bases left loaded

Bottom of ninth inning

Pitcher: RHP Adam Ottavino/LHP Jake Diekman
Outs: One

Trailing, 8-5, the Nats made a comeback push. After Luis García Jr. opened the frame by drawing a walk off Ottavino, Ruiz was hit by a pitch to quickly put two runners on base.

That sparked momentum. Senzel advanced García to third on a fly ball to right field, and Winker drove in García with an RBI single to right. Vargas singled into left field to load the bases for the Nats’ second opportunity of the game with one out.

The Mets made the call to the bullpen for Diekman, and the Nats pinch-hit Joey Meneses for Gallo, while pinch-running Nasim Nuñez for Winker. Meneses hit a sacrifice fly deep enough into center field to plate Ruiz and make it a one-run game.

“Meneses had a great at-bat,” Winker said. “Just missed winning the game with that swing.”

Switch-hitting rookie Drew Millas, called up from Triple-A on Sunday, faced the 13-year veteran Diekman in the deciding at-bat with runners on the corners. He fell into an 0-2 count with two outs and took the third strike looking.

“I got a chance to face a good lefty reliever in the league, and just didn’t get it done,” Millas said. “No excuses. You’ve got to get it done next time.”

Outcome: One run scored, two runners left on base