MLB

Mets’ offense dries up in loss to Nationals after rain suspension

WASHINGTON — The field was finally dry, and so was the Mets’ offensive production.

After waiting nearly four hours in a weather delay the previous night before the game was suspended, the Mets and Nationals completed their missing seven innings Sunday.

The Mets managed only one hit with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 loss at Nationals Park.

For the Mets it was a fourth straight game in which they scored fewer than four runs.

The Mets’ loss was their 14th in 19 games.

The regularly scheduled game was set for later in the afternoon, with Max Scherzer prepared to return from the neck spasms that cost him his start against the Reds on Tuesday.

The suspended game resumed with the Nationals ahead 1-0 with runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the third.

One pitch later the game was tied: Brandon Nimmo hit a sacrifice fly.

Before the suspension, Michael Perez’s double had sent Daniel Vogelbach to third base.

Vogelbach scored the Mets’ first run.

Mets DH Daniel Vogelbach reacts after striking out with the bases loaded during the fourth inning in the continuation of a suspended game on May 14, 2023.
Mets DH Daniel Vogelbach reacts after striking out with the bases loaded during the fourth inning in the continuation of a suspended game on May 14, 2023. AP

The Mets loaded the bases in the fourth inning on singles by Pete Alonso, Brett Baty and Starling Marte, but Vogelbach struck out and Luis Guillorme was retired to end the threat.

Joey Lucchesi (who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse before the game resumed) allowed a run in the first inning on Joey Meneses’ RBI single.

CJ Abrams’ RBI single against Stephen Nogosek in the fourth gave the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Jeimer Candelario walked with two outs and Stone Garrett was plunked by a pitch before Abrams delivered.

Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario (9) celebrates scoring a run against the Mets in the fourth inning on May 14, 2023.
Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario (9) celebrates scoring a run against the Mets in the fourth inning on May 14, 2023. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Perez singled in the seventh — the catcher’s third hit of the game — and scored the tying run on Jeff McNeil’s sacrifice fly following Nimmo’s double.

Perez also singled in the ninth, giving him a 4-for-4 afternoon.

Abrams put the Nationals ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff homer against Dominic Leone.

McNeil came to the plate with the tying run at second base in the ninth, but was retired by Kyle Finnegan on a long fly to center that ended the game.