WASHINGTON — Buck Showalter involved two unused members of his bullpen Sunday as hoped, but the desired result did not follow.
Most notably, Trevor Williams gave up two hits in the eighth inning, including Nelson Cruz’s two-run single that gave the Nationals a definitive lead. But that’s not to pin the Mets’ entire 4-2 loss at Nationals Park to the bullpen.
Pete Alonso made a crucial throwing error after another questionable throw in the innings, and it shouldn’t be overlooked that the Mets were 1-for-8 with runners in goal position after a strong start to the season in this category.
The Nationals tied 2-2 in game eight through Lucius Fox’s squeeze bunt, which brought in pinch-runner Dee Strange-Gordon from third base. Alonso attacked the ball, but his underhand shot at the plate was high and Strange-Gorden slipped under the mark. Chasen Shreve, who had been scoreless the previous 1 1/3 innings, stayed in the game to start the eighth and allowed a single to Yadiel Hernandez. Enter Williams, who allowed Maikel Franco a single that put runners in the corners before Fox’s bunt connected it.
Nationals’ Dee Strange-Gordon scores with a bunt in the eighth inning against the Mets on April 10, 2022. Getty Images
Chasen Shreve gave up a run in the Mets’ loss to the Nationals on April 10, 2022. Getty Images
After Williams recorded an out, Cesar Hernandez hit a grounder that could have been a double play late in the inning. Alonso caught the ball and his throw pulled Francisco Lindor off second base. After Juan Soto made the choice of an outfield player, Cruz gave the go-ahead.
Carlos Carrasco gave up a two-hit run over 5 ²/₃ innings as he joined Tylor Megill and Chris Bassitt among the Mets starters who choked out the Nationals. In the case of Megill and Bassitt, that meant they combined for 11 shutout innings.
Shreve was called out in the sixth with two outs and pulled Soto back to end the inning before posting a scoreless seventh. Showalter had been looking for a spot this weekend to put the left Shreve in a game.
The Mets’ bullpen wasted Carlos Carrasco’s efforts in Sunday’s loss. Getty Images
The Mets used a bang and patience to hit twice in the fourth game and take a 2-1 lead. The slam came from Lindor, who homed on Erick Fedde, who was of the lead. But with two outs, the Mets started another rally that included a walk to Dominic Smith for Eduardo Escobar’s double. Mark Canha drove in the go-ahead run with a single off the Diving Soto’s glove in right field.
Cruz’s two-hit homer in the first inning was the only damage the Nationals did to Carrasco. It continued Carrasco’s trend from last season of getting a dent in the first inning.