WASHINGTON _ The Mets absorbed a double whammy on Monday night, when slugger Yoenis Cespedes came up walking gingerly after he tried and failed to chase down Ryan Raburn's walk-off single in the Nationals' 3-2 victory.
Raburn's sinking liner provided a fitting conclusion to a wild ending that featured two of the National League's leakiest bullpens living up to their respective reputations.
Curtis Granderson came off the bench to hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning only to watch the Nationals rally in the bottom half. Raburn delivered the decisive blow against Fernando Salas.
Cespedes walked slowly off the field, raising concerns that he reaggravated the leg injury that kept him on the disabled list.
Steven Matz and Stephen Strasburg engaged in a pitcher's duel, with each tossing seven shutout innings. But it became a battle of the bullpens, and the Nationals prevailed after the Mets let their chances slip away.
Michael Taylor blasted a two-run homer off reliever Jerry Blevins in the eighth inning, just after the Mets let a chance pass.
With lefty Matt Grace on the mound, Brandon Nimmo legged out an infield single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jose Reyes followed by ripping a single to left.
Third base coach Glenn Sherlock waved Nimmo around, even though he reached base as left fielder Brian Goodwin was collecting the ball. The throw easily beat Nimmo home. The Mets challenged the play, contesting that Nationals catcher Matt Wieters had illegally blocked the plate. It was to no avail.
Still, the Mets had a chance.
After a walk to Asdrubal Cabrera gave the Mets runners on first and second with two down, Cespedes stepped to the plate, hoping that his slump might come to a timely end. Instead, Cespedes bounced into a forceout. He has five hits in his last 34 at-bats, none of them for extra bases.
Granderson had not played since Saturday with discomfort in his right hip. He was not sure precisely what had caused the symptoms, though he knew it was trouble.
On Sunday, he tried to get loose, hoping to come off the bench as a pinch-hitter. The pain and stiffness did not allow it. Before the game on Monday, Collins held out Granderson from the starting lineup for a second straight game, then expressed doubts he might play on Tuesday
But with one swing, Granderson gave the Mets new life.
