Not only did the Mets lose a heartbreaker to their division rivals Monday night, they may have lost a key piece of the lineup as well.
Mets starter Steven Matz had an incredible evening, allowing just four hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out four. He saw his ERA drop by more than half a run, from 2.67 to a minuscule 2.12.
?? @Smatz88 ?? pic.twitter.com/OmWwwOkzFR
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 4, 2017
Nationals starter Steven Strasburg was even more impressive, however, allowing just two hits over seven scoreless. The All-Star struck out six and lowered his ERA to from 3.51 to 3.28.
Seven inning gem from #Strasbeard.
7 IP // 2 H // 0 ER // 3 BB // 6 K pic.twitter.com/eXa6Q6pJhp
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 4, 2017
Washington’s Michael A. Taylor broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, smashing a 378-foot home run to right field off reliever Jerry Blevins, who only lasted a third of an inning.
MICHAEL. A. TAYLOR. His 2-run shot gives the #Nats the lead! #IBackTheNats pic.twitter.com/CTgg7WhukF
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) July 4, 2017
Trailing 2-0 and with all the momentum in the opposite dugout, things didn’t look good for the Mets. But manager Terry Collins still had Curtis Granderson on the bench, and he called on the 36-year-old to pinch-hit for catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
With a runner on base, two outs and facing a 0-2 count, Granderson proved why he is, without a doubt, the most clutch hitter the Mets have.
https://twitter.com/EliteSportsNY/status/882044782935252992
Unfortunately for the Mets, they couldn’t keep the Nationals at bay. Ryan Raburn singled off reliever Paul Sewald in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Matt Wieters and giving the home team a 3-2 victory.
Ya Raburnt! pic.twitter.com/ozIlwa2OGg
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 4, 2017
Yoenis Cespedes, who appeared to get a late jump on Raburn’s walk-off single, injured his hamstring and won’t be in Tuesday’s lineup.
The Mets are calling Cespedes' injury a hamstring cramp. Terry Collins does not expect him to play Tuesday, but Granderson will.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) July 4, 2017
Neither team will get much time to rest, as Tuesday’s game is scheduled to begin at 11:05 a.m. ET. Seth Lugo (3-1, 3.66 ERA) will take the ball for the Mets, while Joe Ross (4-3, 5.12 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals.
