Bullpen, Pete Alonso error cost Mets in loss to Nationals

WASHINGTON — Buck Showalter got two unused members of his bullpen involved Sunday as he had hoped, but the desired result didn’t follow.

Most notably, Trevor Williams surrendered a pair of eighth-inning hits, including Nelson Cruz’s two-run single that put the Nationals ahead for good. But that’s not to pin all of the Mets’ 4-2 loss at Nationals Park on the bullpen.

Pete Alonso committed a key throwing error in the inning after another questionable throw, and it shouldn’t be overlooked that the Mets were only 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position after starting the season strong in that category.

The Nationals tied it 2-2 in the eighth on Lucius Fox’s squeeze bunt that brought in pinch-runner Dee Strange-Gordon from third base. Alonso charged the ball but his underhand throw to the plate was high and Strange-Gorden slid under the tag. Chasen Shreve, who had worked the previous 1 ¹/₃ innings scoreless, stayed in the game to start the eighth and allowed a single to Yadiel Hernandez. Enter Williams, who allowed a single to Maikel Franco that put runners on the corners before Fox’s bunt tied it.

After Williams recorded an out, Cesar Hernandez hit a grounder that could have been an inning-ending double play. Alonso fielded the ball and his throw pulled Francisco Lindor off second base. After Juan Soto grounded into a fielder’s choice, Cruz delivered the go-ahead hit.

Carlos Carrasco surrendered one run on two hits over 5 ²/₃ innings in joining Tylor Megill and Chris Bassitt among Mets starters who stifled the Nationals. In the case of Megill and Bassitt that meant combining to pitch 11 shutout innings.

Shreve was summoned with two outs in the sixth and retired Soto to end the inning before working a scoreless seventh. Showalter had been searching for a spot to get the lefty Shreve into a game this weekend.

The Mets used a pop and patience to score twice in the fourth and take a 2-1 lead. The pop came from Lindor, who homered against Erick Fedde leading off the inning. But with two outs the Mets started another rally, which included a walk to Dominic Smith following Eduardo Escobar’s double. Mark Canha drove in the go-ahead run with a single off the diving Soto’s glove in right field.

Cruz’s two-out homer in the first inning was the Nationals’ only damage inflicted upon Carrasco. It continued Carrasco’s trend from last season of getting dented in the first inning.