Bullpen struggles, Nats lose 7-2

Joe Ross retired the first nine hitters he faced before running into some trouble in the fourth. Curtis Granderson led off the inning with a single to center and then stole second. A groundout from Ruben Tejada moved Granderson to third. Ross followed by striking out Daniel Murphy. But after hitting Lucas Duda, Wilmer Flores delivered an RBI base knock up the middle scoring Granderson.

Ross has allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks through four innings.

Ian Desmond's single to right in the second is the Nationals' only hit against Mets starter Jacob deGrom.

Update: Yunel Escobar roped a double down the left field line to start the fifth. After Clint Robinson grounded out and Desmond struck out, Wilson Ramos smashed a clutch two-out two-run homer to right-center field to give the Nats the lead.

Ross has been impressive. The Mets have managed just one run on three hits through six innings. Ross' control is on point again. He has yet to walk a batter while striking out four.

Update II: Flores led off the seventh with a single to left and then Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a grounder down the first base line that Robinson couldn't come up with. The error allowed Flores to move to third and Nieuwenhuis to second.

With runners at second and third and no outs, Ross got Kevin Plawecki to pop up to Danny Espinosa. Nationals manager Matt Williams decided to end Ross' night and go to right-hander Aaron Barrett.

Pinch-hitter Eric Campbell smoked Barrett's slider into right field scoring Flores and Nieuwenhuis to give the Mets the lead.

Ross was charged with three runs (two earned) on four hits with four strikeouts, no walks and one hit batter over 6 1/3 innings.

Update III: It unraveled in the ninth for the Nats when the Mets turned four singles, two walks and an error into four insurance runs. All four runs were charged to Tanner Roark, who only managed to get one out in the frame.

Right-hander Abel De Los Santos came out of the bullpen to get the final two outs in his major league debut.

Update IV: The Mets beat the Nationals 7-2.