The Washington Nationals (45-32) defeated the New York Mets (40-35) tonight by the final score of 11-4. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2016_06_27_nynmlb_wasmlb_1#game=2016_06_27_nynmlb_wasmlb_1,game_tab=box,game_state=Wrapup

Game Notes:

• Noah Syndergaard was lit up for 5 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings pitched. He walked 3 and struck out 5 in his worst outing of the season.
• Sean Gilmartin wasn’t better in relief allowing 5 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings pitched.
• Wilmer Flores was 2-4 with 2 RBI’s.
• Brandon Nimmo collected his first and second Major League hits by going 2-4.
• Travis d’Arnaud was 3-4 with three singles.

Tonight’s game was flat-out ugly no matter which way you slice it. The Mets jumped on Nationals starter Joe Ross early tagging him for four runs in the first three innings before the game imploded before our very eyes. Taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the third, Noah Syndergaard was tagged for five runs and would be removed after the inning. The Nationals played small ball against Thor swiping a season high five bases off of him and hitting singles to drive in runs. It was the shortest outing of Syndergaard’s career and there are now question marks surrounding him after this start. The questions certainly merit warrant after he departed his last start with elbow discomfort and he now had the worst start of his season. New York Daily News reporter Kristie Ackert has reported that Syndergaard is dealing with bone chips in his pitching elbow and is trying to delay surgery until after the season. Syndergaard however denied the report after the game, stating nothing is wrong with his elbow. Fingers crossed the latter is the truth. 

This was not the kind of outcome the Mets had hoped for after a promising early 4-0 lead, and then the Nationals scoring 11 unanswered runs. In a battle to regain control of first place, with tonight’s loss, the Mets now sit four games out of first place and the best they can do is come out of this series two games out of first. The road over the next two games doesn’t get any easier as the Nationals send two electric pitchers to the mound to face the Mets struggling offense. Ya gotta believe that the Mets can right the ship tomorrow after a tough day both on and off the field, with question marks now surrounding both Syndergaard and Steven Matz. Let’s keep the faith and hope for a crucial victory tomorrow night. 

• The Mets and Nationals will square off in the second game of their three game series tomorrow evening with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm et. You can watch tomorrow’s game on SNY and MLB Network.

• Matt Harvey (4-9, 4.64 ERA) will look to help the Mets swing momentum back in their favor while opposing Nationals right-hander Lucas Giolito who will be making his Major League debut.