The Mets were trending on social media for all the wrong reasons on Saturday, after what appeared to be laugher against the Nationals turned into a nightmare in the first game of a doubleheader in Washington.
The Amazin's frittered away the nine-run advantage they had built through the visiting half of the fourth inning -- in what was meant to be only a seven-inning game as part of the twin bill.
Instead, the Mets coughed up three runs in the bottom of the fourth, four in the sixth, and two in the fateful seventh, capped by Seth Lugo's blown save on a two-run bomb by Washington's Andrew Stevenson.
Starter Marcus Stroman and reliever Miguel Castro didn't acquit themselves especially well, either, despite being staked to big leads. Stroman surrendered five earned on six hits and three walks, while Castro was bombed for four runs (three earned) after recording just one out in the sixth.
The Mets recovered to win, 11-9, in extra innings, with shortstop Francisco Lindor providing the winning margin on a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. In rallying, the Mets avoided what would have been the biggest blown lead in a loss in team history, the Daily News reported.
Despite the positive outcome, the peanut gallery had plenty to say. Baseball fans, Mets fans, and journalists were quick to register their disbelief, jokes, anguish and all other manner of LOLMets, in the latest episode of what has been a very trying second half, to say the least.