METS GAMEDAY
The banged-up Mets put up a valiant fight against the division-rival Nationals Friday night at Citi Field. But in the end, they dropped the series opener in crushing and frustrating fashion.
With six players sitting out the with a slew of injuries, including scheduled starter Jacob deGrom, the Mets lost to Washington, 4-3, in 11 innings.
Closer Jeurys Familia, making his second appearance of the season after returning from a 15-game domestic-violence suspension, walked home the winning run with the bases loaded in the top of the final frame.
Matt Harvey (r.), who started in place of deGrom on regular rest, battled through seven innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out two and walking two. The Mets have lost six of seven and dropped below .500 for the first time this season.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Normally, this category is reserved for something spectacular. But the deciding play in this contest was anticlimactic and cringe-worthy. Jeurys Familia replaced Josh Smoker with Bryce Harper on second and Daniel Murphy on first with one out in the top of the 11th. He proceeded to walk Anthony Rendon and pinch-hitter Trea Turner in consecutive at-bats to bring home the determining run. It was the second straight night Familia struggled with command and walked two batters.
TURNING POINT
Smoker was dominant in the top of the 10th, retiring the Nationals in order in a quick and efficient inning. He returned for the 11th and forced Wilmer Difo into a groundout to second to open the frame. But then Harper, who smashed a massive home run to right-center in the first inning, walked to the plate. Harper doubled to the left-field corner on a line drive just out of the reach of Michael Conforto. He then came around to score the winning run.
STAR OF THE GAME
Curtis Granderson, who entered Friday night hitting just .143, came up with the biggest hit in the loss. With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the sixth, Granderson crushed a Tanner Roark fastball into the upper deck in right field to tie the game at 3. It was his first home run of the season. The 36-year-old outfielder also drove home the Mets’ second run on a two-out single in the fourth.