John Matthews
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) The was supposed to be the Nationals’ year, based on their starting rotation and strong bullpen, but DC fans should know by now that pre-season hype often leads to late-season disappointment, and the Nats offered up just such a Labor Day lesson of futility.
Max Scherzer, who electrified the fan base earlier this season by tossing a no-hitter, tossed a “NO, NO”, giving up five runs in 6 innings en route to an 8 – 5 loss to the Mets. The loss drops the Nats five games behind New York in the race for the National League East pennant.
Scherzer never found his groove on Monday, and gave up a single run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Nats manager Matt Williams insists he did not leave Scherzer on the mound too long.
“[Scherzer’s] our No. 1 for a reason,” he said. “I’m hoping that he would get through that. He’s our best option in the sixth. He’s our horse going out there.”
The Nats loss ruined what had been a stunning comeback for Washington. After trailing, 3 – nothing, Wilson Ramos knocked a 4th inning grand slam homer into the left-center bleachers to give Washington the lead, but the Mets followed with runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to clinch the win.
Washington still has the opportunity to close the gaps with the Mets to three games if it can manage to win the 3-game series with a pair of wins Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Jordan Zimmermann will face the Mets’ number one arm in Matt Harvey Tuesday, which Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound Wednesday against Jacob deGrom.
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