The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets this afternoon by the final score of 12-1 at Tradition Field. This game concludes the Mets games at Tradition Field this spring. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_03_30_wasmlb_nynmlb_1#game=2016_03_30_wasmlb_nynmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Matt Harvey got the start and pitched 2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits. He had 1 walk and 2 K’s. Harvey’s big mistake came on a 3-run home run off the bat of Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman.
• Noah Syndergaard came on in relief and pitched 3 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, with a strikeout. Syndergaard’s lone mistake came off a 2-run homer from Nationals LF Jayson Werth.
• Yoenis Cespedes was 2-2 this afternoon with a double.
• David Wright was 1-2 with a single.
• Travis Taijeron was 2-2 with a solo home run.
• Jeurys Familia struggled this afternoon pitching 0.2 inning allowing 5 runs (2 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout.
• Mets are winless in last 13 Spring Training contests.
• The Mets have scored 1 run in their last 24 innings.

The Mets were simply outplayed this afternoon, as two pitches cost them five runs, and the bats were again silent today. It’s fair to wonder if the players are simply bored at this point with as long as the spring has been, and are ready to get going against Kansas City Sunday night. Either way there shouldn’t be an excuse for poor play today, including  a throwing error by Lucas Duda, a misplayed ball by Cespedes, a fielding error by Eric Campbell, a catching error by Familia, and the team in a run scoring drought this late in spring. Antonio Bastardo allowed one of Familia’s inherited runners to score in the 9th before retiring his final batter. I’m leery on Bastardo, but we will see how he performs when the games that matter start. The Mets have two opportunities in the next couple of days to show better results in Las Vegas against another National League favorite in the Cubs. Either way I will not be hard on this team unless this play translates to regular season games, but it is difficult not to ignore the sloppy play recently. 

• The Mets will head to Las Vegas to play the Chicago Cubs tomorrow evening, with first pitch at 8:05 pm et. The game can be seen on MLB Network.

• Jacob deGrom has been scratched from his start, as he will stay behind in Port St. Lucie with his wife who is expecting their child any day now. RHP Paul Sewald will make the start for the Mets against Cubs righty Ryan Williams.