Game #148: Nationals 3, Mets 2

Tonight was Star Wars night at Citi Field. So in the spirit of George Lucas, the Mets decided to re-release last night's result but change it around a bit. Han shoots first in this one, but it's still essentially the same game.

Washington countered New York's big 5th with 3 unanswered runs, and a two-out rally in the 9th came up short as the Mets dropped another one to the Nationals, 3-2.

The Bad Stuff:

• New York scored two runs in the 5th, but would plate no more, despite hammering out 11 hits (10 singles, 1 double). The team hit 2-9 with RISP and stranded 10. With 2 outs and runners on the corners in the 9th, Lucas Duda came up looking for a four hit of the night. He wouldn't get it, striking out on 3 pitches to put it in the books.
• After the Nationals scored 2 in the 6th, recent callup Dale Thayer came in from the bullpen. He got one out then gave up a couple singles and was relieved in favor of Tim Byrdak. Byrdak got his man, then turned it over to Bobby Parnell. Parnell won't get the loss for this, but he let the dam break: Ryan Zimmerman hit the go-ahead single on the second pitch, a 96 mph fastball after a 94 mph changeup.
• Parnell's a tough one to put a finger on: he's shown signs of greatness, and just the opposite. And sometimes it comes on consecutive days. There's no doubt he can throw; a 100 on the radar gun will tell you that; but he definitely needs some more work. Earlier in the season I think we all thought he had it, but moving to the closer role for a short time seems to have wrecked him for the year.

The Good Stuff:

• When you bang out 11 hits, there's gonna be some good stuff to talk about.
• Jose Reyes went 3-4 and scored a run. The outstanding showing boots his average up from .329 to .333 and lifts him 2 points over Ryan Braun.
• Lucas Duda also went 3-4 and produced the team's runs in the 5th; an RBI single scored Reyes, while Ruben Tejada came in on a throwing error. Tejada finished the day with a solid 2-5 line as well.
• Dillon Gee re-demonstrated his close-to-mastery of Washington, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking 2 and striking out 5. With some normal run support, he might have been in line for a W tonight; unfortunately, he caught a case of Dickeyosis (that just sounds wrong, doesn't it?).

Final Analysis:
There really isn't anything to say that wasn't said after last night's 3-2 loss: the guys seem to have finally run out of gas. Now the biggest question is this: at 6 games under .500 and stalled on the highway, how much farther will the Mets' record drift downhill?

MM