The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Mets collapse in ninth, lose to Nationals
WASHINGTON — Kurt Suzuki capped the largest ninthinning comeback in Nationals history with a gameending, threerun homer, helping Washington score seven runs in its final atbat to beat the New
York Mets 1110 Tuesday night.
Mets relievers Paul Sewald, Luis Avilan and Edwin Díaz pitched through the meltdown, retiring just one Nationals batter while Washington rallied for its 20th win in 26 games.
New York led 104 after scoring five runs in the top of the ninth. Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 26 games
and Pete Alonso crushed his 44th homer to put the Mets in position for a win over the current leaders in the NL wildcard hunt.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway lifted reliever Seth Lugo after he pitched a perfect eighth inning. Lugo routinely gets six outs per outing, but Callaway thought the lead was safe enough to go deeper into the bullpen.
Sewald allowed four hits to his five batters, including Trea Turner’s RBI double and Anthony Rendon’s RBI single. Avilan allowed a single to load the bases, and then Díaz (17) relieved and allowed a tworun double to pinchhitter Ryan Zimmerman followed by Suzuki’s blast.
Suzuki pointed into the home dugout before rounding first base, pumped his fist at second and was swarmed by teammates at home plate. It was his 16th homer of the season.
Javy Guerra (31) retired the only batter he faced to end the Mets’ ninth.
Washington is the first team to allow five or more runs in the top of the ninth and get even more in the bottom of the inning for a walkoff win since the Red Sox on June 18, 1962 against the Washington Senators.
New York’s fiverun ninth was aided when Nats shortstop Trea Turner forgot how many outs there were and passed on a possible doubleplay grounder, instead throwing to first.
The game began as a duel between the most recent NL Cy Young Award winners. Washington’s Max Scherzer allowed four runs and five hits while striking out seven in six innings, the longest of his three starts since coming off the injured list last month.
New York’s Jacob deGrom was in firm control for much of his outing, which ended abruptly in the eighth after Anthony Rendon’s infield single and Juan Soto’s tworun blast to rightcenter pulled Washington within 54. In seven innings, deGrom yielded four runs while striking out six.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 2B Robinson Canó (torn left hamstring) was activated from the injured list less than a month after suffering what had the potential to be a seasonending injury. “I don’t want to say that I’m surprised because I worked really hard,” Canó said. “I’m just happy to be back right now.”
Nationals: An MRI revealed OF Adam Eaton has a bone bruise near his right knee. Eaton, who was injured Wednesday and left Monday’s game after two innings when his knee stiffened, was available to pinch hit.
CALLUPS
Washington recalled INF Wilmer Difo from TripleA Fresno and OF Michael A. Taylor from DoubleA Harrisburg. Difo hit .300 with four homers and 30 RBIs after his midMay demotion, while Taylor hit .248 with nine homers and 35 RBIs in 57 games for Harrisburg.
METS PROMOTIONS
New York promoted Bryn Alderson, son of former general manager Sandy Alderson, to professional scouting director and Jeff Lebow to assistant director of professional scouting. Lebow joined the Mets’ organization in 2011, while Alderson did in 2012.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (97, 4.41 ERA), who is 02 with a 7.94 ERA in four starts against Washington this season, is set to start for New York.
Nationals: RHP Anibal Sanchez (86, 3.80), who is 80 with a 3.21 ERA in his last 16 starts, takes the hill as Washington concludes an eightgame homestand.