Daniel Murphy (AP)
TOO PAINFUL TO LOOK: Mets starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner covers his eyes during last night’s 5-3 loss, in which Daniel Murphy (inset) and the defense let the Amazin’s down yet again with two more errors. (AP)
WASHINGTON — Visions of first place heading into the Subway Series have been replaced by just trying to end a losing streak.
The Mets had gone more than a month without three straight losses, but now have something resembling a slump as they search for that elusive crisp game.
Last night they couldn’t figure out Washington’s Edwin Jackson, whose three-hitter over seven innings sent the Mets to their third straight defeat, 5-3 at Nationals Park.
Among the slumping is Daniel Murphy, who finished 0-for-4 and is hitless in his last 17 at-bats. He also committed two errors last night — one of which led to an unearned run against Jeremy Hefner.
“You don’t have to look any farther than this locker right here, where to start with some of our poor play the last couple of days,” said Murphy, who also booted a grounder in Tuesday’s eighth inning that prevented the Mets from getting the lead runner at second — the run eventually scored and the Mets lost 7-6 in 12 innings. “It starts right here. We’ve got to get better, starting with me.”
Hefner (1-3) gave the Mets a chance by pitching six innings in which he allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts. It was the rookie’s second straight start of allowing three earned runs over six innings.
Even so, Hefner will likely return to Triple-A Buffalo, as the Mets shift back to a five-man rotation. Chris Young, who started Tuesday and allowed three earned runs over five innings, will slot in as the fifth starter. But Hefner has at least proven he’s a dependable option should the need arise for a spot start from the right-hander.
“Whatever capacity they need me to be in either here or in Buffalo, I’m on board for that,” Hefner said. “I want to win just like the other 25 guys in here do.”
Tim Byrdak allowed a run in the seventh, as the Nationals extended their lead to 5-3. Adam LaRoche’s sacrifice fly brought in the run after Steve Lombardozzi drew a leadoff walk and Bryce Harper singled.
Hefner had a rough first inning, surrendering a three-run homer to LaRoche, but then got his act together.
Only two of the runs in the first inning were earned, after Murphy booted Bryce Harper’s grounder that should have been the second out. Murphy had another error in the third when he misplayed LaRoche’s hard grounder, but Hefner got Michael Morse to hit into an inning-ending double play to help Murphy off the hook.
“For the most part we’ve played pretty good defense all year, until now,” said Terry Collins, whose Mets committed three errors on Tuesday.
David Wright singled leading off the fourth and went to third when the pitcher Jackson threw the ball away in a pickoff attempt. Lucas Duda’s RBI ground out pulled the Mets within 3-2.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ RBI single in the second inning got the Mets their first run. Omar Quintanilla walked leading off the inning and went to second on Hefner’s sacrifice bunt before Nieuwenhuis delivered for his 20th RBI of the season. Ike Davis had the Mets’ only other hit — a double in the seventh that led to a run.
“It’s not always us — once in a while you get somebody who pitches well against you, and they’ve got outstanding pitching,” Collins said. “They don’t lead the National League in pitching without having guys that can get you out.”