Noah Syndergaard isn’t losing much sleep about home field in the NLDS.
“I think we’re going to give it to the Dodgers anywhere we are,” the rookie boasted after the Mets lost 3-1 to the Nationals on Saturday in the first game of a split doubleheader.
Syndergaard is allowed to talk tough given the manner in which he pitched to conclude the regular season — the right-hander fired two straight gems, including a one-run, 10-strikeout performance Saturday over seven innings that wasn’t enough to keep the Mets from losing their fourth straight.
The Mets (89-71) were one game behind the Dodgers for home field heading into the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Dodgers played a late game against the Padres.
“Win or lose is not the issue right now,” manager Terry Collins said. “We’re going to party on here, we’re playing Friday and I don’t care where it’s at. But we’ve got to get the edge back. We’ve got to get the focus back. We’ve got to get the concentration back. Those are the things that when you clinch early, sometimes you can lose.”
Syndergaard said it doesn’t matter if he pitches on the road or at home in the NLDS.
“We prefer to open up at home, just because we have the best fans in baseball,” Syndergaard said, before adding his comment about the Mets’ plan to “give it” to the Dodgers.
Bryce Harper hit a monstrous two-run homer in the eighth against Addison Reed to provide the Nationals with their margin of victory after the Mets had bungled a potential inning-ending double play.
Yunel Escobar hit a grounder to second that Daniel Murphy fumbled before recovering to get the force at second base, but Ruben Tejada’s return throw to first pulled Lucas Duda from the bag.
“I have no concerns about this ballclub at all,” Murphy said.
For Syndergaard, who threw 101 pitches in which he allowed two hits, it was his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season. In his previous start, Syndergaard went 7 ²/₃ innings against the Reds and allowed two runs with 11 strikeouts.
“I feel like I ended the regular season on a high note today and I learned a lot this season,” Syndergaard said. “Now I have to transfer what I learned during the season into the playoffs.”
Syndergaard’s 166 strikeouts were the most by a Mets rookie since Dwight Gooden whiffed 276 batters in 1984. But Syndergaard’s 1.05 WHIP was the lowest by a Mets rookie pitcher.
“This guy throws a lot more strikes and you would think a young man with that kind of arm and that size, it’s surprising how much he pounds the strike zone,” Collins said. “That’s why I was most impressed as we went through the season. He throws strikes and he makes you swing the bat, and that is why I think he’s going to be a good pitcher.”
Juan Lagares’ RBI single in the seventh snapped the Mets’ scoreless streak at 23 innings and tied it 1-1. Duda’s leadoff walk and Tejada’s single started the rally before Lagares delivered against lefty reliever Matt Grace.
Clint Robinson’s upper-deck homer in the seventh accounted for the Nationals’ only run against Syndergaard.
Gio Gonzalez threw six shutout innings for the Nationals in which he allowed three hits and walked three.