TL;DR
The Mets lost 5-4 to the Nationals, marking their 17th loss in 20 games. The team struggles continue as they prepare to face the Angels next.
Apr 30, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Apr 30, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The headline says it all: the Mets lost again today at Citi Field, losing 5-4 to the Nationals, and have now lost 17 of their last 20 games. Something has to change, and quickly.
Freddy Peralta looked sharp early, despite walking James Wood to start the game. Peralta struck out the side after allowing the free pass. In the top of the second, Peralta continued to look sharp pitching, but his fielding bit him.
Jorbit Vivas singled with one out. Nasim Nuñez hit a ball to the right of the pitcherâs mound, and Peralta had to rush, throwing an errant throw to Mark Vientos at first, who was not able to handle the throw. Vivas was already at second by the time the ball got away from Vientos, and he not only took third but also came home and scored, while Nuñez got all the way to third. Jacob Young would single Nuñez home, putting the Nats up 2-0.
Peralta wouldnât be out of the weeds just yet, as in the third Luis Garcia Jr. doubled to lead off the inning. singled him home one batter latter to put the Mets down by three.
The Mets were struggling to make anything happen against former Cardinal , who is having an absolutely atrocious season. In the bottom of the first, hit what looked to be a solo home run to right field, but Wood, calm and measured, jumped and nestled it into his glove. But aside from that and an single, the Mets werenât putting anything really on the ball.
That changed in the bottom of the third when, with two outs, walked and Soto singled to put two on. Melendez then turned on a ball and tied the game with one swing.
With the game now tied, Peralta settled in, not allowing a baserunner in the fourth or fifth inning. In the sixth, Peralta walked José Tena and Vivas back to back. But after a mound visit, Peralta emptied the tank, throwing his hardest pitches of the game and getting Nuñez to pop out to end the frame.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Mets played some small ball, and it paid off. Soto walked to lead off the inning, and was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt by Melendez. Mark Vientos doubled and scored Soto to put the Mets up 4-3.
pitched a perfect top half of the seventh inning, and the Mets stranded Carson Benge on second in the bottom half. would get the eighth, and things did not go very well.
Garcia singled to start the frame, and hit into what couldâve been a double play ball, but took too much time on a throw to first, and Lile was safe. Abrams was up next, and he deposited a changeup into the bullpen to put the Nationals up 5-4.
Old friend Richard âDickyâ Lovelady pitched the eighth for the Nats. Juan Soto greeted him with a double off the centerfield wall that just missed being a solo home run. Pinch hitter hit a weak grounder to short, not advancing the runner for the first out. Vientos hit a sharp liner right into Nuñezâs glove for the second out of the inning. came in to face and, three pitches later, Taylor hit a weak fly out to left to end the frame.
pitched the ninth, and was greeted by a single, a stolen base, and a sacrifice fly, putting Nuñez on third with just one out. A hard two-hopper by Young to short was fired back to at home to get Nuñez. Young then tried to steal second, but was thrown out by Torrens, keeping it a one-run game going into the ninth.
The Mets got a two-out baserunner when pinch-hitting Francisco Alvarez pulled a double down the left-field line. Mauricio represented the winning run at the plate, and he struck out on a breaking pitch (shocker) to lose the game and the series.
The Mets travel to Orange County, California for three with the Angels. takes the ball Walbert Urena.
