WASHINGTON — You can make all the right moves as a manager and get all the big hits that a small team can muster, but if the Mets can’t field the baseball, especially at shortstop, they are doomed.
There was Air Jordan. This was Error Jordany.
Rookie Jordany Valdespin committed two errors at shortstop in the 10th inning last night that allowed the Nationals to tie the game after the Mets had taken a 5-4 lead.
The Mets took the lead again in the 12th on a solo home run by Scott Hairston, but the Nationals tied it on back-to-back doubles from Michael Morse and Ian Desmond and won it on a two-out, bases-loaded single by phenom Bryce Harper. That hit put the Mets out of their misery and gave the Nationals a 7-6 victory in 12 innings at Nationals Park.
With all that, the Mets blew a chance to take over first place in the NL East.
Starting shortstop Omar Quintanilla also made a costly throwing error that allowed a run to score in the fifth, and Valdespin is a second baseman by trade who was switched to short last night. He hit a home run and a double. He is essentially the Mets’ Eduardo Nunez.
In the bottom of the 10th, with Bobby Parnell pitching, Valdespin’s error allowed leadoff hitter Ryan Zimmerman to reach base. Then Ike Davis muffed a ball at first. Davis got the out at first but allowed Zimmerman to go to second. Zimmerman moved to third on a wild pitch.
A walk brought Desmond to the plate. He hit what looked like a sure-fire double-play ball right at Valdespin that would have gotten the Mets out of the inning, but Valdespin booted the ball. The tying run scored and runners were on first and second.
After an infield hit to third loaded the bases. Parnell was able to strike out Rick Ankiel to escape further damage.
This was a horrible night for Mets shortstops because Ruben Tejada had to pull himself from a game in Buffalo with his right quadriceps tightening up again. The Mets need to go out and get a shortstop, and Jose Reyes is not available.
Manager Terry Collins was asked if the Mets need to make a move to get someone up here with a glove they can trust.
“We got him,’’ Collins answered. “Quintanilla’s here.’’
Asked about getting a backup, Collins said, “There’s no such animal right now. We don’t have any space to bring in anybody else. Our roster is maxed out. We’re just going to have to make sure that [Valdespin] gets enough ground balls.’’
This infield has issues, four double plays have not been turned the last two games, costing them games.
“At this level you can’t give away outs,’’ Collins added.
Asked about making a trade, Collins said, “I doubt it.’’
Would he like to see a trade, he was asked. “I’m fine with Quintanilla,’’ he said.
The Mets are waiting on Ronny Cedeno to recover from a calf injury. If Collins has to pinch-hit for Quintanilla, he said he would.
“Valdespin has to go play shortstop; that’s just the way it is,’’ he said.
Valdespin said after his bad night that he is going to work even harder on his fielding and Collins said he has to overcome these errors, mentally and physically.
“If he is going to play in the big leagues, we’ll find out,’’ he said.
The Nationals tied the game in the eighth because Daniel Murphy could not get the lead runner when he bobbled a ground ball. Nothing is more deflating for a team than poor infield play. This has been a fun run for the Mets, but general manager Sandy Alderson has to bring in a competent fielding major league shortstop. The Mets should know better than anyone that leg injuries to shortstops can linger. They cannot really count on Tejada, who had been doing a terrific job.
It hurt the Mets last night, and it will hurt them again.
The Mets have come too far to be caught short now.