Syndergaard too slow holding runners, Mets lose to Nationals

But a pair of rookie Washington Nationals hurlers at least momentarily derailed the Mets’ playoff push Friday night. Washington won the opener, when its own rookie starter, A.J. Cole, earned his first career win by tossing six solid innings in a 4-1 victory over NY and All-Star right-hander Noah Syndergaard.

“We’ve got a ways to go and the pressure cooker’s about to mount”, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “The only way you’re going to learn how to get through this is to be in it, and we plan on being in it for a long time”. The 29-year-old is 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 career games (seven starts) against the Mets.Gsellman suffered the loss in his first career start after giving up four runs in six innings against Philadelphia on Sunday.

Glover, meanwhile, was recalled August 17, four days after the release of Jonathan Papelbon, who opened the season as Washington’s closer. There are 27 games left, only two games away from that second NL wild card and help was on the way Friday night at Citi Field despite another loss to the division leading Washington Nationals. That RBI hit, hard hit though it was, still was just a ground ball. “I think that’s huge when you get guys in your system”. That would be all the Mets could muster against Cole (W, 1-1), who allowed just the one run on three hits in six innings of work.

But Gsellman and Lugo have combined to go 3-2 with a 2.96 ERA in their last five appearances (four starts) dating back to August 19, which has Mets manager Terry Collins confident they are up to the task of keeping NY in the race.

“Whenever we get a chance, we have to prove and show that we are able to throw here – anytime, no matter the situation”, said Cole, a fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft.

Along with shutting down the Nationals in the middle innings, Syndergaard might have shut down the crowd, too.

Four pitchers combined to record the final nine outs, with Mark Melancon notching his 38th save with a one-hit ninth.

Matt Harvey will not return this season after undergoing surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and Steven Matz is now on the disabled list with left shoulder tightness. In the fourth, Harper doubled with one out, stole third and scored on Ramos single.

The single turned into essentially a triple because Syndergaard’s one weakness is that he is the easiest pitcher in baseball to steal bases against, and before Jayson Werth’s at-bat was even done, Turner was on third base.

Washington won its fourth in a row and increased its NL East bulge over the wild card-contending Mets to 10 1/2 games.

As deGrom will likely miss his next start, the Mets will need Syndergaard to resemble an ace each time he takes the mound. “It looks like a completely different team”, Collins said.

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard (12-8) took the hard-luck loss after allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four over seven innings. Whereas past year, Syndergaard had a 3.24 ERA and 3.25 FIP, he came into this game with a 2.55 ERA and 2.31 FIP. “Just the nature of the game”, Mets manager Terry Collins said. “Rough night, we didn’t give him much support, but he pitched well”.

Though the Mets and deGrom are optimistic he will only miss a start, Matt Harvey is out for the season with surgery to his right shoulder, and lefthander Steven Matz awaits his return as he recovers from left shoulder tightness.