Mets Fall to Nationals in 11 Innings

The baseball soared past Cedric Mullins, the center fielder, and ricocheted back into right field.

On Saturday, the Mets let a three-run deficit slip away, ultimately leading to a 5-3 defeat in 11 innings against the Nationals at Citi Field. Daleen Lille, known for his speed, rounded the bases to finish the scoring.

Mullins shared, “At first, I just wanted to have fun with the ball.” He explained that adjustments needed to be made because Rogers is a unique pitcher, which changed how they positioned themselves defensively.

“He connected well, and I thought I had a fair jump. I hesitated a bit, thinking I could read where it would hit off the wall if I couldn’t make the play,” he added.

Errors plagued the Mets, with two occurring in a single inning that gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead over rookie Nolan McLean, highlighting their ongoing defensive struggles.

After the game, it was evident the pressure was mounting. Mullins, who was recently picked up from the Orioles, sprinted after the ball as it hit an angled section of the outfield wall. He managed to get it to infielder Francisco Lindor, but the relay throw soared over the head of catcher Francisco Alvarez.

“It’s one of those instinctive plays,” Mullins said. “I had a plan but didn’t execute it properly.” Andre Chaparo, who was on second, scored ahead of Lyle during the plays, putting the Mets at risk of ending the season without a victory.

Mets manager Karos Mendoza commented on the predicament: “It’s challenging, but if you notice you can’t make the play, better to give it a shot from the wall.” He noted that stopping the ball was nearly impossible once it hit at that angle, directing it straight toward the warning track.