Mets lose 9-5, record 21-26

The New York Mets lost 9-6 to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, May 19, after building a five-run lead in the first two innings and then surrendering nine runs by the end of the fourth. MLB’s official Gameday page listed the Mets at 21-27 after the loss, while Washington improved to 24-25. Foster Griffin got the win for the Nationals, Nolan McLean took the loss for New York, and Richard Lovelady earned the save. Bo Bichette supplied most of New York’s early offense. MLB’s game story showed Bichette hit a two-run homer in the first inning and another homer in the second, helping the Mets go ahead 5-0 before Washington answered. ### How did the Mets lose after going up 5-0? The Mets led 5-0 in the second inning before Washington scored four runs in the bottom half and three more in the third. (mlb.com) MLB’s inning line shows New York scored 3 runs in the first and 2 in the second, then did not score again until a solo run in the seventh. Washington scored 4 in the second, 3 in the third and 2 in the fourth. (mlb.com) James Wood delivered the swing that changed the game. MLB Film Room identified Wood’s play as an inside-the-park grand slam in the second inning, cutting the Mets’ lead to 5-4. The MLB game story said Wood became one of three MLB players in the past 10 years to hit an inside-the-park grand slam. ### Which Mets moments stood out anyway? (mlb.com) Bo Bichette’s bat was the clearest bright spot for New York. MLB’s game story said he homered in each of the first two innings and became the first Mets player to do that since Curtis Granderson on Aug. 8, 2015. Juan Soto added the Mets’ final run. MLB’s game story credited Soto with a solo home run in the seventh inning, his seventh homer of the season, but New York did not score in the eighth or ninth. (mlb.com) ### Where did the game get away from New York? Nolan McLean was charged with the loss after allowing the Nationals’ comeback to unfold across the middle innings. (mlb.com) MLB’s box material listed McLean at 5.2 innings, 6 earned runs and 5 strikeouts, with his ERA rising to 3.57. The Mets also made two errors, and both clubs finished with fewer than 11 hits. (mlb.com) MLB’s official linescore showed New York had 10 hits and 2 errors, while Washington had 9 hits and no errors. The game story also logged two runs scoring on a Bichette throwing error during Washington’s third-inning surge. (mlb.com) ### What does the record look like now? Baseball-Reference listed the Mets at 21-26 entering the day and in fifth place in the National League East. MLB’s official scoreboard then showed New York at 21-27 after Tuesday’s result. Washington’s win moved the Nationals to 24-25. MLB’s scoreboard showed the teams were back at Nationals Park as part of the same series. (mlb.com) ### What happens next in the series? The Mets and Nationals are scheduled to play again on Wednesday, May 20, at Nationals Park. Schedule listings from MLB and StatMuse showed another New York-Washington game on May 20, followed by a May 21 game in Washington before the Mets travel to Miami on May 22. (baseball-reference.com) (mlb.com 1) (mlb.com 2)