It won't get any easier for Bryce Harper, Nats against Matt Harvey

After the Nats dropped a pivotal series opener to the Mets yesterday afternoon, it seemed like more of the attention was focused on Bryce Harper's brief comments on the Labor Day crowd checking out a bit prematurely at Nationals Park.

"I mean, they left in the seventh," Harper said. "That's pretty brutal."

For what it's worth, Harper has also praised the fans all season, later saying on Monday that playoff atmospheres have been pretty insane on South Capitol Street. But we also know that Harper can't stand playing in front of small crowds at home or on the road. In his mind, maybe he thought those few thousand that walked out early were giving up on a chance to see him change the game with one violent lash of the bat just as Wilson Ramos had done with his thunderous grand slam in the fourth.

However, after Jayson Werth's RBI double sent starter Jonathan Niese to the showers in the fourth, Washington didn't offer any further damage against New York's bullpen. Five Mets relievers combined to hold the Nats scoreless over the final 5 2/3 innings while only allowing three hits and striking out nine in the 8-5 loss.

Hard-throwing right-handers Hansel Robles and Jeurys Familia combined to fan seven in the final three frames, with Familia whiffing the side in the ninth. Harper went down swinging for the second out in the ninth for his third strikeout of the day (0-for-4, one walk).

"I think after that we had some opportunities definitely to score some runs, but they got a shutdown bullpen," Harper said. "They've got Robles and, of course, Familia. When they're throwing 96 mile per hour sinkers up there, 96 mile per hour cliffhangers, it's pretty tough. Robles, he uses that quick-pitch to his advantage. Throwing 99 miles per hour quick-pitching, that's definitely tough."

In 14 games against the Mets this season, Harper is batting just .231 (12-for-52) with one homer, four RBIs and eight walks.

"Oh, it's done," Harper said when asked how crushing of a loss yesterday was. "It's already done. I'm over it. It's part of the game. You win, you lose and sometimes it rains. It's just part of the game. We'll come back (Tuesday) and try to get (Matt) Harvey and see what we can do."

It won't get any easier for the Nats and Harper as the Mets send imposing right-handers Harvey and Jacob deGrom to the hill today and tomorrow. Harper is 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts and three walks in his career against Harvey.

Harvey is 2-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 24 strikeouts in four starts against the Nationals this season.

Meanwhile, ace Max Scherzer squandered the Nats' best matchup against Niese by giving up a two-run lead on an afternoon where he was thumped for three homers. The Nationals are now 0-3 in games Scherzer has started against the Mets this season.

"We gotta shake off this tough loss and just come ready to play," Scherzer said. "We gotta find a way to beat these guys. It's very important."

Harper echoed those sentiments as time is running out.

"We've got 25 left," Harper said. "We're going to play as hard as we can. Go about it the right way and do what we can to get within a couple games."