WASHINGTON — The Mets’ six-run outburst over five innings should have been plenty for Taijuan Walker on Sunday, but there was the right-hander departing before he could finish the fifth.
“I just didn’t do my job,” Walker said after the Mets’ 13-6 victory over the Nationals.
Walker allowed six earned runs on six hits with three walks over 4 ¹/₃ innings in raising his ERA to a season-high 4.15. He appeared to have his afternoon under control after a rocky first inning in which he allowed homers to Lane Thomas and Josh Bell, but then came the fifth.
In that inning, Juan Soto drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. Before departing Walker unleashed a wild pitch that tied it 6-6.
“They just found the hole that inning,” Walker said. “I thought I threw some good pitches that inning, but the offense gave me six runs and I didn’t do my job today.”
The outing was Walker’s shortest since July 24, when he lasted only four innings against Toront
For the short term, at least, the Mets are keeping three catchers (James McCann, Patrick Mazieka and Chance Sisco) because of injury concerns. McCann returned from the injured list on Saturday and started the nightcap of a doubleheader, but was on the bench Sunday with Mazieka behind the plate. Manager Luis Rojas indicated the team wanted protection in case McCann’s back spasms flared up.
Sisco was knocked out of Friday night’s game following a collision at the plate with Andrew Stevenson, but indicated he was feeling better after undergoing testing for a concussion. Sisco said he had no problem with Stevenson’s approach.
“I watched the replay and there was kind of nothing you could do on both sides,” Sisco said. “There was really no way for me to get out of the way and I don’t know if he could have gotten out of the way.”
Dominic Smith will “potentially” rejoin the Mets on Monday, according to Rojas. The outfielder was placed on the bereavement list Friday.
Travis Blankenhorn was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, returning the Mets’ roster to 28 players a day after the doubleheader.