Moments That Mattered: A Comedy Of Errors

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One night after the Nats came back and beat the Mets late in a game Matt Harvey started, they were absolutely puzzled by the significantly less impressive Dillon Gee and the still-awful Mets bullpen. A lack of consistency and momentum has plagued the team this season, so it is only fitting that they lose in such awful fashion today after last night’s excellent win. The defense fell apart, as Ryan Zimmerman committed two errors and Ian Desmond committed his second error in two games after making none in 59 consecutive games. This team needs Bryce Harper back in the worst way, both for his offensive contributions and so that the team is no longer “waiting” for anything. Now, every excuse is “they’ll be better when Harper returns.” When he finally does, they won’t have any more excuses and it’ll be time to put up or shut up. The Nats are very capable of putting up, but they need to do it soon.

June 29, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Mets player Daniel Murphy (28) scores as Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki during the game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Most Important Nationals Hit: Kurt Suzuki‘s RBI single (+9.4%)

It would make quite a bit of sense that the Nats’ most important hit was their only run-scoring play of the day. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Roger Bernadina doubled off the top of the wall, coming just inches from clearing it. Suzuki drove him in for the Nats’ only RBI of the day and the only real damage they would do against Gee despite putting at least one runner on in every inning.

Most Important Nationals Pitch: a terrible series of errors on which Marlon Byrd reached base (-14.8%)

Get ready folks, because this one’s a doozy. With a runner on second and one out in the fifth, Marlon Byrd grounded to third. Zimmerman booted it, allowing Byrd to get on and Daniel Murphy to head for third. Ian Desmond picked up the booted ball and attempted to throw out Murphy at third, but hit him with the throw. As the ball bounded away, Murphy scored and Byrd ended up on second with a 2-1 Mets lead.

Champ of the Game: Suzuki (+12.8%) had an excellent game, going 3-4 with the Nats’ only RBI. He had been quite cold as of late, with a batting average hovering above .200, but now has four RBI in his past seven games. For the Mets, Byrd (+25.4%) was just 1-3, but had two runs scored and an RBI. He reached base on both of Zimmerman’s errors.

Chump of the Game: Sadly, this goes to undeserving Taylor Jordan in his MLB debut. He allowed just one earned run on five hits and two walks in 4.1 innings, but WPA tacks the errors and the subsequent unearned runs, of which he allowed two, on to him. Eric Young, Jr. (-10.2%) was 1-4 with an RBI, but grounded out with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth.