Carlos Mendoza addresses Mets’ brutal inning vs. Nationals

The New York Mets have a long way to go before digging themselves out of the hole they’re in to start things off in the 2026 MLB season, and their 9-6 loss against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night isn’t going to help matters for them whatsoever. Their injury troubles have already put them in such a difficult position, and making a few basic mistakes on the field is just making matters worse for them.

The Mets started things off quite well on Tuesday night, as they went ahead 5-0 through the first two innings of the ballgame. But by the time the third inning came along, the Mets were already down by one run, 7-6, with Nolan McLean not being at his best. However, it wasn’t until the fourth inning when disaster truly struck.

With runners on at second and third for the Nationals and just one out in the inning, McLean was able to induce a ground ball straight towards Bo Bichette at shortstop. It looked like Bichette was going to gun down the runner headed towards home, but Luis Torrens could not corral his throw, going straight towards the backstop. The Nationals scored two and this proved to be all the difference they needed.

Bo Bichette gets charged with a throwing error that allows two runs to score

Nationals have scored nine unanswered runs after the Mets took a 5-0 lead in the second inning pic.twitter.com/mps1LJXXGw

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 20, 2026

After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza believes that they have a good defensive core despite the errors they’ve been making these past few games.

“Not good. The past four days or so making errors on routine plays. We’re a good team defensively,” Mendoza said, via SNY on X (formerly Twitter).

Carlos Mendoza on the Mets' defensive miscues in the fourth inning

"Not good. The past four days or so making errors on routine plays. We're a good team defensively" pic.twitter.com/0kJdg9wSrv

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 20, 2026

It doesn’t help at all that Francisco Lindor is currently on the IL with a calf injury, and the Mets, as a whole, just haven’t gotten into a rhythm for this entire season.

The only good news is that they have 114 games left to play in 2026, so time is on the Mets’ side still as they try to recover.

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