In a season of lows, last night may have been the Mets' lowest point yet

(Image credit: Screenshot/Twitter/ESPN)

published 1 August 2018

With his team facing a 24-run deficit, the veteran infielder stepped up to the mound and tossed a 54-mph curveball. The pitch beaned the batter perilously close to the derrière, prompting him to fake a charge at the mound before giggling as he made his way to first base.

You might think this is an elaborate parody scene concocted by a bored sportswriter, but alas. It is a factual description of the New York Mets' Tuesday night:

The Mets, it can be said, are in a bit of a tailspin. But on Tuesday night, their 25-4 loss to the Washington Nationals in the nation's capital marked a low point — and one with impeccable comedic timing, given the game was played just hours after the Mets chose to largely stand pat at the MLB trade deadline, signaling an apparent belief that they're within contention range. Meanwhile, SNY's Michael Avallone notes that the 25 runs the Mets gave up to the Nats is the second-highest run total allowed in franchise history, just one shy of the record 26 coughed up to the Philadelphia Phillies back in 1985.