The New York Mets dropped their final series of the season against the Washington Nationals, falling 5-3 on Tuesday night. It's the 13th time in 17 games the Mets have lost to the Nats, as two late-inning rallies by Washington ruined R.A. Dickey's bid to match Gio Gonzalez for a league-leading 19th win.
Dickey gave up a two-run shot to pinch hitter Tyler Moore in the top of the seventh that put the Nats ahead for good. Dickey was cruising through the first six innings and it looked like he might go the distance for the sixth time this season. But Moore's pinch-hit shot, a first-pitch swing and laser into the first row of seats in left, made the seventh Dickey's last inning of the night.
The Nats added two more runs of insurance in the ninth, putting five straight men on base. Frank Francisco put the first four on and was yanked without getting a single out. A Bryce Harper single off Josh Edgin then added the second run of the inning, scoring Kurt Suzuki from third. The Nats rookie finished with the first four-hit game of his career.
The insurance would prove to be vital for Washington, with the Mets Scott Hairston smoking a Tyler Clippard offering to left for a solo homer in the ninth. But Clippard would bear down and convert his 31st save of the season.
The Mets will send rookie Matt Harvey to the mound on Wednesday night to try and avoid the sweep. Washington will counter with John Lannan, who is taking Stephen Strasburg's turn in the rotation with the ace shut down for the season.
For more on the Mets, head over to Amazin' Avenue, and continue to check out SB Nation New York.