he New York Mets (67-70) were stung by a pesky Washington Nationals (64-73) club in a rough 8-7 walk-off loss on Saturday night. It was a night of rallies for both clubs, but in the end the walk hurt the Metropolitans in Game Two.

In a game of many momentum shifts, it was the Nationals gaining the early advantage, thanks to starting pitcher Tom Milone, who was making his MLB Debut for Washington.  Milone started the night well recording his first strike out, as well as two perfect innings against New York.

The lefty pitcher also recorded his first home run in the bottom of the second inning. As Malone swung on the first pitch he saw from fellow Rookie Dillon Gee-sending it over the right field fence, which gave the Nationals the 5-0 lead.

New York then had two comeback innings of their own as they were able to rally in the fourth and sixth to eventually take the 7-6 lead in the game.

Angel Pagan and Nick Evans led the offensive surge in the fourth, as Pagan laced a two-run single to score the first two Mets runs. Later on in the frame it’d be Evans capping off the offense with a two-run bomb (4) to left field, which made the score 5-4 at the time.

After the Nationals regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, New York found another rally off the bat of Jason Bay. As the Mets left fielder snapped a 0-for-35 homer-less streak on the road; connecting for a long shot (10) to deep left center field, giving the Mets their first lead of the night.

The Mets bullpen was called upon and shutdown the Nationals for three straight innings, as Pedro Beato, Danny Herrera and Manny Acosta all were able to blank the Washington bats. With New York clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, it was up to Bobby Parnell (L, 3-5) to save the game.

Parnell came in, after working consecutive nights against the Marlins, and did not have his best stuff, as ex-Mets farmhand Jesus Flores got the frame going with a single to left field.

In starts against his ex-team, Flores has haunted New York with key hits, as the catcher finished this night going 3-for-4 with an RBI in the game.

The Nationals eventually were able to load the bases for Ryan Zimmerman, who responded with a broken-bat two-run single to right field-which gave Washington their 10^th walk-off victory this season.

Now the Mets will hand the ball over to starter Mike Pelfrey (7-11, 4.65 ERA) in the finale of this series.  ‘Pelf’ will take on Livan Hernandez (8-12, 4.29 ERA), in what is scheduled to be his last start for the Nationals.

Washington is planning on moving Hernandez to the pen, as pitching-phenom Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his return to the team sometime next week. The first pitch for Game Three on Sunday is slated for 1:35 p.m.

Written on September 4, 2011