Corbin laments three mistakes in otherwise dominant start

NEW YORK - Patrick Corbin pitched well enough in his season debut to earn the win. He did not get the win.

Patrick Corbin again pitched well enough in his second start of the season to earn the win. Again he did not get the win.

One of these days, Corbin will be rewarded for his efforts. Until then, all the Nationals left-hander can do is keep putting his team in position to win and hope the rest of the squad fulfills its duty.

"We have confidence in our team," Corbin said Saturday after watching the Nats bullpen implode during a 6-5 loss to the Mets. "I think things are gonna turn around. Guys are in here working hard to get better, and we've had some close games and some haven't gone our way."

That's an understatement. When Corbin departed his first start of the season, the Nationals held a 5-2 lead over the Mets. Then the bullpen turned it into a 5-5 game before Trea Turner saved the day with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth.

When Corbin departed Saturday's start, the Nationals were trailing 3-2. But a three-run top of the eighth put them in position to win ... until the bullpen again blew it in the bottom of the eighth.

On the bright side, the team's new $140 million pitcher has lived up to the billing so far, especially during this latest start.

Corbin dominated the Mets the first time through the order and beyond, striking out seven of the game's first 10 batters and nine overall in six innings. That he did this against the same New York lineup he faced last weekend added to the performance.

Not that Corbin was perfect. He made three mistakes, and those proved critical. Twice he tried to get a fastball by J.D. Davis, only to watch as the Mets third baseman launched each pitch for a solo home run. And when he tried to get Michael Conforto with a 1-2 slider in the bottom of the sixth, that ball was sent soaring deep to right.

Corbin allowed only six hits during the game, but three of those were solo homers.

"Those guys in the middle of their lineup, they got some power there if you make a mistake," he said. "And they made me pay for it."

Corbin will finally get to face a different opponent next weekend when he's scheduled to start against the Pirates. By then, he and the Nationals can only hope the rest of the club has solved its late-inning issues and start making the most of the lefty's quality performances.

"It's still early, long season left," he said. "They brought in these guys for a reason. They all have a proven track record and have done well, and maybe for some it just takes a little bit of time. But they're in here every day working hard, trying to get better. We still believe in everyone that's here, and we're excited moving forward with the team that we have."