DeGrom hits 200-inning mark in loss

In spring training, coming off a season where he required surgery for an elbow nerve issue — and that followed a rookie season where he was shut down — Mets righty Jacob deGrom set 200 innings as a goal.

On Sunday, deGrom reached the mark for the first time in his career.

“It’s definitely big for me. We got plans to hopefully go to the World Series next year and that’s something I wanted to get to know what it’s like to pitch that many innings in a year,” deGrom said.

But there was no happy ending this day for deGrom, even though he again reached double-digit strikeouts. That’s because his opponent, Max Scherzer, also hit double-digits in strikeouts and the Nationals hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Mets at Citi Field.

DeGrom (15-10) struck out 11, didn’t walk anyone and gave up three runs, two earned, and five hits over six innings to hike his innings to 201 ¹/3 for the season.

“You never know what to expect coming off surgery, so being healthy this year was definitely a big plus,” said deGrom, who claimed he learned to better pace himself this season.

“Just knowing when to do more and do less. There were times when I was struggling this year and I could have went out and kept throwing, throwing, throwing and trying to figure it out, whether it be watching some video versus going out there and throwing and doing mental work verses physical,” he said.

In a lost season when Met starting pitchers made MRI exams part of their lifestyle, deGrom’s contributions were appreciated.

“With the breakdown of the pitching staff, he turned into the ace. He became the guy you turned to when things were tough,” manager Terry Collins said. “You lost a few in a row you were always looking to see when he was going to pitch again because this guy takes it, he competes, he stops losing streaks and that’s what he’s done.”

But Sunday, Scherzer (16-6) came out ahead. Scherzer fanned 10, surrendered just one run on Brandon Nimmo’s first-inning homer and then yielded just two more hits.

Trea Turner nailed deGrom for a two-run homer in the third and Jose Lobaton’s singled in an unearned run to put the Nationals up, 3-1, in the fifth. The Mets made it interesting late. Three singles, including Jose Reyes’ RBI hit to center, got the Mets within 3-2 against reliever Ryan Madson in the eighth. Madson left after walking Travis d’Arnaud to load the bases, but Sammy Solis struck out pinch-hitter Kevin Plawecki. Then Brandon Kintzler survived a two-on, one-out mess of his own making in the ninth for the save.