Nationals Pen Delivers Lord’s Salvation in 5-4 Win Over Mets

Nationals 5 Mets 4 (Nationals Park, Washington, DC)

Mets record: 67-59

Mets streak: Lost 1

Last 10: 4-6

WP - Brad Lord (4-6)

LP - Kodai Senga (7-5)

S- Jose A. Ferrer ( 3 )

Seat on the Korner: Josh Bell

We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.

For tonight’s “Seat on the Korner,” we virtually invite Josh Bell to join Ralph Kiner, just as Kiner did for his postgame studio chats on WOR-Channel 9 in the early years of the Mets. With no Washington Nationals recording more than one hit, Bell stood out, driving in Robert Hassell III for the Nats’ second run in the bottom of the third and then delivering the game-winning solo shot in the fifth—his 16th home run of the season and only the second of his career off Kodai Senga. It was a performance that made all the difference tonight and earns Bell a virtual seat on the Korner.

Need to Know

• The Mets failed in their attempt to win their fourth straight win and need to win tomorrows rubber match to secure a second consecutive series victory .

• Scoreboard Watch: Every NL Wild Card contender the Mets are chasing (Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs, Padres) won Tuesday, as did the Reds and Cardinals, who are chasing the Mets. The path is simple—keep winning.

• Brett Baty has reached base in eight straight games, batting .344 with four homers in August. His 5th inning Home run was the second longest Met home run this season, traveling 455 feet.

• Francisco Lindor singled leading off to extend his hitting streak, to eight games and he is batting .500 in that span with three HRs.

• Juan Soto has reached base in all 17 games this month with six homers, 14 walks, and five steals.

• Brandon Nimmo exited the game midway through the second inning with neck stiffness.

• Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless seventh inning. The lefty reliever has been nearly untouchable as a Met—9 1/3 innings, no earned runs, 8 strikeouts.

• 20/20 Vision: Mets are the only NL team with four players (Alonso, Lindor, Nimmo, Soto) hitting 20+ homers.

  
  

Turning Point

The game’s turning point came in the top of the sixth, when the Mets nearly erased Washington’s lead. After back-to-back walks to Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, Brad Lord froze Starling Marte before Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil ripped consecutive doubles to cut the deficit to 5–4. With the crowd buzzing, the Nationals turned to Cole Henry, who entered amid chaos and an ejection of interim skipper Miguel Cairo. A throwing error by Paul DeJong and a walk to Brett Baty loaded the bases with one out, giving the Mets two golden chances to tie or even take the lead. But Cedric Mullins flied out, and Luis Torrens then scorched a grounder that second baseman Luis García Jr. snared and threw to first for the final out. The Mets left three runners stranded, momentum stalled, and they would never seriously threaten again.

Three Keys

Fearsome Foursome

The Nationals’ bullpen was nothing short of stellar, preserving Brad Lord’s lead and shutting down a Mets lineup that had multiple opportunities to tie. After Lord worked 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs, Cole Henry came on and navigated a bases-loaded jam without giving up a run. Rounding out the relief corps, Ogasawara, Beeter, and Ferrer combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, striking out one, and keeping the Mets off the scoreboard. The Nationals bullpen’s performance was decisive, turning a tight game into a controlled finish and securing the win.

Senga a Ghost of Himself

Kodai Senga, making the 50th start of his major league career, ran into trouble against the Nationals, giving up five runs for only the second time in his career and the first time since May 2023. His dominance over Washington this season—11 1/3 innings pitched with just one run allowed on three hits—came to an abrupt halt as he struggled through five innings, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned). After posting a sterling 1.39 ERA in his first 14 starts, Senga’s ERA has ballooned to 6.00 over his last six outings, nearly doubling his season mark and highlighting the rough stretch he’s currently enduring.

Mets Catch a Break

In just the second game since losing Francisco Alvarez, the Mets collectively held their breath in the third inning as Luis Torrens appeared to suffer an injury on a potential catcher’s interference play. With Alvarez sidelined and Hayden Senger the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, the situation carried real weight, highlighting the team’s fragile catching depth. Fortunately, Torrens was able to stay in the game, but the moment served as a stark reminder of how thin the Mets are behind the plate.