Mets robbed of game-tying homer in ninth in crushing loss that knocks them out

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Acce s the Mets beat like never before  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time  texting with Mike Puma  about the inside buzz on the Mets.  The Mets spent all summer among the chased and will begin the autumn  or is it The Fall?  as a team chasing.  Goodbye Ish Smith Jersey  lead for the National Leagues third and final wild-card spot. The Mets now have six games to overtake the Reds or they will head home Sunday night without a playoff berth.  The reality of that po sibility crept closer on Sunday with a 3-2 lo s to the Nationals that left the Mets scrambling.  The Reds beat the Cubs 1-0 to move into a tie with the Mets for the final wild-card spot. But the Reds own the head-to-head tiebreaker based on winning the season series, leaving the Mets as chasers for the first time in this race.  Its been happening right in front of our eyes, so I can definitely believe it, Brandon Nimmo said, referring to the Mets 35-52 record since June 13. Were down to the last week of the season. Our playoff hopes are in front of us.  Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez reacts to a home run being robbed from him against the Washington Nationals.  Robert Sabo for NY Post  Mets pitcher Sean Manaea (59) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals.  Robert Sabo for NY Post  Explore More  Three games against the Cubs await beginning Tuesday at Wrigley Field. The Mets will finish with three games in Miami against a Marlins team that won three of four games in a visit to Citi Field last month.  The Reds, who won their fifth straight on Sunday, face the Pirates and Brewers each in a three-game series. The Reds began their September surge by beating the Mets two of three games in Cincinnati just over two weeks ago. Beginning with that series the Reds have won 10 of 16 games. The Mets have lost 11 of 16 games.  CHECK OUT THE AND  We put ourselves in this position, so we have got to find a way to get out of it, Francisco Lindor said. That comes down to winning.  Jacob Youngs second highlight-reel catch of the game helped seal it Sunday: the Nationals center fielder reached above the fence in left-center to rob Francisco Alvarez of a po sible game-tying homer leading off the bottom of the ninth.  Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals reacts after a catch in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 21, 2025.  Getty Images  For a second straight day, the Mets couldnt produce enough offensively to handle a Nationals team about to finish last in the NL East. The Mets went 2-4 in their final two series against the Nationals.  You look at the talent here and were one hit away, making one play, one pitch  were close, manager Carlos Mendoza said. We just havent been able to get that last hit or make that play when we need to or execute a pitch.  Sean Manaea, returning to starting duty following a bullpen appearance last week, lasted only three innings and allowed three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts. Clay Holmes piggybacked Manaea and pitched 3 / scorele s innings. It was a reversal from Tuesday, when Manaea piggybacked Holmes.  Jacob Young is singlehandedly trying to keep the Mets out of the playoffs.   Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo)  Manaea fell into a 3-0 hole in the second inning. Jorge Alfaro stroked a double and Daylen Lile, who had been running from first base, scored on the play after Lindor took the cutoff and threw errantly to second base attempting to nail Lile. With two outs, Nasim Nuez cleared the left field fence for a two-run homer.  Today I drove in a run, but I also drove in a run on the defensive side, Lindor said. If we are going to be where we want to be, those things cant happen. I have to be better.  The Mets pulled to within 3-1 in the bottom of the inning as Cedric Mullins followed Luis Torrens leadoff double with an RBI single. On the play, Lile slid into the side wall and lost the ball, with initial confusion over whether the play was fair or foul. Mullins said he got confused because Torrens wasnt running from second and therefore thought the ball had been ruled foul. Mullins only wound up at first base with a single.  Mets third baseman Mark Vientos slams his bat on the floor after he strikes out swinging and is ejected from the game in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Sunday, September 21, 2025.  JASON SZENES/ NY POST  Any chance of a big inning was erased when Lindor lined to first base to start a double play. Juan Soto followed with a double and reached third on a balk before he was left stranded.  Youngs first circus catch of the day in center robbed Brett Baty of an extra-base hit in the fifth. Young hit the fence, bobbled the ball and then kicked it midair (hacky-sack style) into his glove for a jaw-dropping out.  Lindor homered leading off the bottom of the sixth against Jake Irvin to slice the Nationals lead to 3-2. The Mets left the tying run at second base in the eighth when Jeff McNeil was retired for the final out.  Its not ideal, but we can still get into this thing, Nimmo said of the postseason. Nothing has changed even though the Reds won their game.  C.J. Miles Jersey
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