Jorge CastilloApr 30, 2026, 05:34 PM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Nationals take the series vs. the Mets with 5-4 win (1:24)Nationals take the series vs. the Mets with 5-4 win (1:24)
“Not good enough, obviously,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Not a secret. That’s not going to do it. We got to start winning series. Period.”
The performance continued a torrid stretch for Melendez, who has been the Mets’ second-best hitter since being called up to the majors April 15 with a 1.061 OPS in 33 plate appearances. But Mendoza chose to pinch-hit Austin Slater, a right-handed hitter, for Melendez, a left-handed hitter, in the eighth inning with Soto on second again, no outs and left-hander Richard Lovelady on the mound.
It was Slater’s second appearance since signing with the Mets on Sunday. He grounded out before Vientos lined out and Tyrone Taylor flied out to strand Soto at second.
“Slater’s here to hit lefties, obviously,” Mendoza said. “Knowing that we’ve seen Lovelady against righties as well. Just wanted to take the chance there with a righty against him and try to do damage.”
The only damage inflicted was on the Mets’ record. They finished April by getting swept by the Colorado Rockies and losing two of three games to the Nationals. They will begin May in Anaheim for a three-game series against the freefalling Los Angeles Angels, losers of six straight games, knowing the hole is getting too deep.
“It’s hard for all of us,” Mendoza said. “We’re in this together. It’s not easy. But we’ve got to keep going. There’s no other choice here. We have a responsibility and we have to turn this thing around.”
Nationals take the series vs. the Mets with 5-4 win (1:24)Nationals take the series vs. the Mets with 5-4 win (1:24)
Jorge CastilloApr 30, 2026, 05:34 PM ETCloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.Follow on X
“The freedom with which we play day-to-day is kind of being suffocated a little bit,” Weaver said.
Nationals take the series vs. the Mets with 5-4 win (1:24)