The Washington Nationals finished with just three hits and gave up six late inning runs in an 8-3 loss vs. the New York Mets
The win streak is over for the Washington Nationals after giving up six late inning runs against the New York Mets, falling 8-3 on Friday night.
This marks the first loss in three meetings against the divisional rival in spring training.
Zack Littell took the mound for the first time as a National where he gave up one run, tossed a pair of strikeouts and allowed three hits in three innings and 39 total pitches. His arrival led to left hander Richard Lovelady getting designed for assignment, but Friday gave a chance to prove why he could be an upgrade to the rotation.
It started on a good note after tossing his first strikeout of the night before giving up consecutive doubles with two outs, leading to the Mets first run.
With Cionel Perez on the mound in the fifth inning, the Mets would add another run on the board after two singles and an error by Perez led to a 2-0 deficit before tossing his lone strikeout of the night to end the inning.
Washington would tie it up in the bottom of the fifth after Nasim Nunez capitalized on Dylan Crews single and Jose Tena walk to add the first run of the game for the Nationals. Two at bats later, Yohandy Morales hit a sac fly to tie the game at two before a CJ Abrams fly out ended the inning.
The Nationals would respond once again after capitalizing on another runners on situation thanks to James Wood drawing a walk and Daylen Lile reaching second thanks to a single and error. Dylan Crews would put together a bright spot in a tough spring training with his sacrifice fly enough to bring in James Wood to give Washington its first lead of the day.
But it also proved to be the last after a three-run double in the top of the eighth inning put the Mets back on top with Jared Simpson on the mound. In the ninth, New York tallied another three insurance runs with Erick Mejia on the mound.
The Nationals couldn't muster a comeback after suffering consecutive strikeouts before a Cortland Lawson line out ended the game.
Now 11-5-3 in spring training, the Nationals will return to action for a 12:05 PM tipoff tomorrow against the Miami Marlins. The Nationals have taken two of the three prior meetings, including the 16-8 win during the opening weekend of spring training.