Like so many of the seasons that have preceded it, 2018 limps into the dark with a whimper. It’s been a lost season for so long, it’s hard to know whether nights like last night — a tight game where the Mets matched an elite team inning after inning before exploding with some timely hitting — are heartening or even more devastating, given the brutal summer that preceded it. But here we are. Again.

Jason Vargas held the National League East champions scoreless, allowing only three hits and striking out six; he went into the seventh inning for the first (and last) time this season, and in his last start finally pitched like the player the Mets had paid for in the offseason. He will finish the year 7-9. His effort was helped by two great stops by Amed Rosario at short, and Robert Gsellman pitched into and out of trouble in the ninth for his 13th save.

All of the Mets four runs came off homers by catchers, a Kevin Plawecki solo shot in the third off Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (six innings, one run, five strikeouts), and a Devin Mesoraco three-run pinch-hit home run in the seventh off reliever Brad Brach.

The Mets host the Marlins for the final games of the season, with Corey Oswalt (3-3, 6.08) facing Jose Urena (8-12, 4.07). First pitch is 7.10 p.m.

There might be games left on the schedule, but you’ll forgive Mets fans for believing the season over. A day after the team announced that Zack Wheeler would be shut down until 2019 due to workload, fan favorite Wilmer Flores was shut down for the year — diagnosed with early onset arthritis. The games already didn’t matter, but now each calendar day seems to bring new heartbreak.

The heartbreak at Nationals Park was less monumental, but a more-or-less solid Jason Vargas start (5.2 innings, three runs [two earned] and eight strikeouts) was nevertheless squandered by the bullpen who couldn’t protect a two-run lead, surrendering a pair in the eighth inning.

Vargas’ counterpart for the Nationals, Cy Young contender Max Scherzer struck out 13, bringing him to 290 strikeouts on the year, eclipsing his previous season high of 284 strikeouts in 2016. Scherzer went seven innings, surrendering three runs.

Outside their wobble in the eighth, the bullpen managed to hold the tie into extra innings.

Amed Rosario led off the 12th with a single off Nationals reliever Jefry Rodriguez and was sacrificed to second by Jeff McNeil. Two walks — an intentional one to Michael Conforto and an inadvertent one to Jay Bruce — loaded the bases for former National Jose Lobaton, who drove in Rosario with a sacrifice fly. Paul Sewald came in the bottom of the 12th for his second save.

Mickey Callaway was ejected by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 12th, Reyburn ejected Bryce Harper after a called third strike, for balance.

Conforto continued his good hitting against Scherzer, one of the best pitchers to ever play the game, with a two-run home run in the third to begin the scoring (and three walks). Bruce followed with a solo home run — but that was as mortal as Scherzer ever got. Anthony Rendon continued to be a Met killer, driving in three runs.

The road trip continues tonight as Jacob deGrom (8-9, 1.78) faces Joe Ross (0-0, 3.60) at Nationals Park; first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Marlins 2, Mets 5 [Game 2]

It was a day where the games mattered even less than usual; Mets captain David Wright announced that this season would be his last, and the collective wail from Mets fans meant the doubleheader sweep of the Marlins was a joyless one.

On any other day, Game One would have been a thriller, ending on back-to-back home runs for the first time in franchise history, with Michael Conforto homering to tie the game with two outs in the ninth, his 25th, and Todd Frazier following with a walk-off home run, his 18th. Steven Matz surrendered two home runs (three runs overall) and hit a two-run homer himself in the second inning. Jerry Blevins, who had come in in the ninth, got the win, his third.

In the nightcap, a makeup, Jason Vargas pitched six innings for his sixth win of the year, and Robert Gsellman picked up his 11th save. Tomas Nido homered, and Conforto continued his heroics, driving in three of the Mets runs, which was the winning difference.

But it was all an afterthought, as the 2018 season, long a lost cause, managed to find a new, devastating way to break our hearts.

The Mets travel to Boston to face the Red Sox tonight. Noah Syndergaard (11-3, 3.44) will take on Hector Velasquez (7-2 3.29); first pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Noah K. Murray – USA Today Sports

Despite the fact that both pitchers play for lackluster teams, the prospect of a Madison Bumgarner-Jacob deGrom showdown provided fanbases for both teams the tantalizing prospect of two of the best pitchers in the game going head-to-head. It was a cruel trick of the schedule that wasted this matchup on a weekday afternoon getaway game, crueler still because neither pitcher disappointed: deGrom struck out 10, Bumgarner 8; Bumgarner walked no one in eight innings, allowing only one earned run, and while deGrom walked four, he also surrendered only one earned run in six.

Bumgarner (5-5 on the year) is now 7-0 against the Mets in his career, and holds a 0.59 ERA at Citi Field: a relentless campaign of terror that will make the less-than-Amazins happy to see the back of him. The Giants lefty added insult to injury by hitting an RBI single.

Is it possible to call any start for a pitcher with a Cy Young-worthy season, including a 1.71 ERA, yet a .500 record (he fell to 8-8 on the year), particularly frustrating? If so, this was one was; despite double-digit strikeouts, deGrom surrendered a run on a passed ball in the third, and appeared to escape the fourth inning with a one-run deficit intact striking out Nick Hundley looking before home plate umpire Tony Randazzo granted a walk to the Giants catcher. That set up Bumgarner for the RBI double, leaving deGrom to fume at the home plate umpire. Evan Longoria added to the Giants lead with a solo home run off Tyler Bashlor. Todd Frazier provided the Mets’ only offense, hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning. The home runs were the 14th of the season for each player.

New York will host the recently swamp-drained Washington Nationals at home Friday, and face another pitcher who loves mowing down Mets, Gio Gonzalez (7-10, 4.51), while the Mets will send out Jason Vargas (3-8, 7.67). First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports

Game Two: Phillies 9, Mets 6

Just over two weeks after an epic drubbing by Washington — where they lost by 21 runs on July 31 — the Mets saw things from the other side of the equation as they scored the most runs in franchise history, which included a 10-run fifth inning capped off by a Jose Bautista grand slam.

The lowlight of the afternoon came when Brandon Nimmo took a ball off his hand with the bases loaded in the top of the third. It rolled into fair territory, and the ignominy of a rally-killing dribbler paled in comparison to the sight of Nimmo lying face-down in the batter’s box. This horror show came almost a year to the day after Michael Conforto ended last season on a swing that injured his shoulder. Nimmo came out of the game, and initial reports were that x-rays were negative for a fracture. Given that past reports of a player’s robust health have proven grossly exaggerated (stay off those heels, Yoenis!), Mets fans will be forgiven for still living in dread.

That existential terror aside, the offense exploded for the second game in a row, plating 24 runs on 25 hits, helped by some execrable Philadelphia defense: third baseman Maikel Franco committed two of the Phillies’ four errors. The Mets feasted on the Phillies pitching, both when facing professional pitchers and after Philadelphia skipper (and ice cream enthusiast) Gabe Kapler waved the white flag and sent out position players to toss the final three innings.

Six Mets had at least three hits; Conforto, Amed Rosario and Bautista (who replaced Nimmo in the outfield) homered. Bautista’s seven runs batted in were a franchise record for a player coming off the bench. Kevin Plawecki had another outstanding game, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three runs batted in.

Corey Oswalt went six innings for his second win of the season. Thanks to those errors, only half of his counterpart’s eight runs allowed were earned; Ranger Suarez is now 1-1 in two career starts. Jerry Blevins pitched an inning of relief and collected his first major league hit.

In the nightcap, the Ballad of Steven Matz continued its doleful tune. The Mets southpaw lasted two innings, surrendering two home runs and six runs overall (four earned). Zach Eflin pitched 6.2 innings for Philadelphia, allowing four runs and striking out five.

Rosario collected another pair of hits in the second game, and was the bright spot in an otherwise lackluster Mets offense — although, to be fair, six runs is a pretty above-average showing for this year’s Mets team, especially if you ignore the 24 runs they scored a few hours before.

Trailing from Matz’s early exit by as much as six runs over the course of the game, the Mets did mount a rally in the ninth, managing to bring the tying run to the plate to make things interesting. After six-plus hours of baseball and a combined forty-three runs scored, there was only so much interest to go around.

The series continues at Citizens Bank Park at 6:05 p.m. Friday, as Noah Syndergaard (8-2, 3.22) faces Aaron Nola (13-3, 2.28).

Photo credit: Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports

On a humid and miserable night that ended with rain dampening whatever was left of the spirits of whatever was left of the Flushing faithful, the Mets limply lurched to another loss, while Atlanta played for a share of first place.

It wasn’t until the third when the Mets remembered they were the Mets, and Atlanta scored three runs to obliterate a a 1-1 tie.

Brandon Nimmo hit his 14th home run in the first inning (his third lead off home run of the year), and a pinch-hitting Luis Guillorme driving in Jose Reyes in the fifth accounted for all the Mets runs.

The closest the Mets came to changing the momentum came in the sixth, after Michael Conforto walked with one out; Wilmer Flores knocked a single into center that Ronald Acuña Jr. overran. Atlanta won their appeal of the tag play at second, and instead of the tying runs on base with one out, Todd Frazier popped out on the very next pitch.

Ozzie Albies and Johan Camargo drove in one and two runs, respectively, cementing their status as Mets killers. Usual suspect Freddie Freeman drove a run in as well.

Jason Vargas went five innings, surrendered four runs (all earned) and struck out seven. The Wilpons are paying $8 million a year for this.

Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz went six innings, holding the Mets to two runs and striking out five. Atlanta is paying him $2.2 million a year, for what it’s worth. A.J. Minter collected his seventh save on the year.

These two teams face each other again tonight, with Anibal Sanchez (5-3, 3.00) taking on human embodiment of pathos Jacob deGrom (5-6, 1.82). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Adam Hunger – USA Today Sports

Between a New York team with very little to play for and a Pittsburgh club almost on the edge of having something at stake, it was a lively game that turned into a laugher at PNC Park — and the Mets were not on the side of the crooked score you might expect. They won their third game in a row — also not something you would expect.

The important thing is that Steven Matz continued to progress, and pitched a sometimes gutsy, sometimes dominant game. Another important thing is how Asdrubal Cabrera, surely on the trading block this week, upped his marketability with two doubles, a home run, and four runs batted in.

Over the first four innings, the game fell into a quick cycle as the Mets would stake a lead that Matz promptly surrendered. The southpaw took the mound for the first time with a two-run lead, only to watch the Pirates tie the score in the bottom of the first. The Mets regained the lead, 4-2 in the third, only to watch the Pirates tie the game again. In the fourth, the Mets again put Matz in the lead, and this time it stuck.

Rookie Jeff McNeil provided some weird, bad baseball in his first major league start, misplaying a line drive and then running the Mets out of a rally in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Devin Mesoraco grounded to third, and Pittsburgh third baseman David Freese’s throw pulled Josh Bell off the bag, allowing Mesoraco to reach safely. McNeil ran from first to third, forcing a prone Jose Bautista to lamely jog into a tag at the plate.

The Mets got to Pirates starter Nick Kingham early and often, knocking him out after three-plus innings and lighting him up for six runs, all earned. Wilmer Flores and Asdrubal Cabrera homered against him.

Matz went six innings, and struck out the first five batters he retired — he struck out nine overall, tying a career high. Despite the early inability to hold leads early, his stuff was electric, with some extra speed on his fastball that he kept in on right-handed hitters and at the top of the strike zone. He retired the final ten batters he faced.

Jason Vargas (2-6, 8.60) takes the mound tonight against Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.28); first pitch will be at 7:05 p.m.

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports

After a thrilling and unexpected walkoff win Wednesday night against the Phillies, there was no reason to expect anything the next day. So it was thrilling to watch the Mets hold their own against the reigning Cy Young Award winner, knocking on the door and never letting the Nationals run away with the game, even bringing the winning run to the plate in the ninth.

It’s a sign of how painful it is to follow this team that minimal competence is exciting, but here we are, celebrating a professional start from their pitcher and an offense that acts like they at least belong in this league. That’s the 2018 Mets: looking up at the cellar.

For Washington, it was the Anthony Rendon and Bryce Harper show; the two players accounted for all five runs. The Nats’ third baseman drove in three runs with two homers off an otherwise very solid Steven Matz. Harper’s two-run home run came in the seventh off Jerry Blevins.

Jose Bautista accounted for the first two Mets runs — driving in Asdrubal Cabrera in the first, and then hitting a solo home run to lead off the fourth. Kevin Plawecki hit a solo home run off Scherzer in the seventh, and Asdrubal Cabrera hit a solo home run off Kelvin Herrera in the eighth. Plawecki led off the ninth with a single, putting the tying run on base, but Ryan Madson got the save, his fourth of the year.

Max Scherzer was strangely mortal last night, as the Mets touched him for three runs (two of them off home runs) in seven innings of work.

Matz provided a quality start, throwing exactly one hundred pitches in six and a third innings, striking out four, surrendering only the three runs off Rendon’s bat.

Tonight Noah Syndergaard (4-1, 3.06) makes his return off the DL versus Tanner Roark (3-11, 4.76); first pitch is at 7:10 p.m/

NOTES

The SNY broadcast team noted that July 12 was National Different Colored Eyes Day, which was fitting for a Max Scherzer start.

Steven Matz couldn’t retire the first five Rockies he faced, and by the time the first inning was complete, Matz had put his team down 3-1, having instantly erased the goodwill a Todd Frazier home run generated in the first frame.

When he sleeps tonight, Matz will no doubt have nightmares about Nolan Arenado. The Rockies third baseman was responsible for all five runs Matz surrendered, with a three-run home run in the fist and a two-run double in the second. Matz ended the day surrendering five runs over 5.2 innings. After an atrocious first two innings, the lefty settled down, but it proved too little too late, and his record falls to 3-5.

Denver native Kyle Freeman was efficient for his hometown team, allowing two runs over six innings, striking out four.

The Mets were not their normal anemic selves on offense, as they managed eleven hits and four runs; the difference, however, turned out to be the five double plays the team grounded into over the course of the afternoon. They brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two out in the person of Brandon Nimmo, but the human ray of sunshine can only do so much, and struck out. The Mets were 1-3 in Colorado, and 3-7 over the course of the road trip.

Yoenis Cespedes might begin running soon. David Wright is somewhere. The Dodgers arrive in town today to face the Mets at Citi Field. Alex Wood (2-5, 4.22) will face Zach Wheeler (2-5, 4.82). First pitch is 7:10 p.m.

Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing – USA Today Sports

It seemed like the same old story was unfolding at Chase Field: a decent outing by a starting pitcher, anemic offense and an imploding bullpen would converge for a desultory loss by the Mets in Arizona. And other than a late rally and generally close game, things otherwise followed the script.

Jason Vargas, who is the first pitcher in Mets history to not go more than five innings in any of his first eight starts, pitched lasted five, allowing three runs and striking out five, keeping the team within striking distance, helped in no small part by Todd Frazier sparking two double plays behind him.

The Mets had clawed to within a run by the time Vargas gave way to Hansel Robles, who pitched a scoreless sixth; Robles and Jerry Blevins teamed up to load the bases with two out in the seventh, yielding to Paul Sewald, who forced in a run, walking Nick Ahmed before managing to strike out Paul Goldschmidt. Jacob Rhame made the bullpen’s efforts not to be terrible for naught, surrendering two solo home runs to David Peralta and Jake Lamb in the eighth.

The Mets’ three runs came on solo homers: Brandon Nimmo in the first inning, his ninth; Michael Conforto beginning to right the ship with a booming home run to center field in the sixth, his eighth of the year; and Amed Rosario off Archie Bradley in the top of the eighth. They were the only hits the Mets scratched out, aside from a single by Dominic Smith in the fifth.

Former Mets draft pick Matt Koch went six innings for Arizona, yielding two runs and striking out five. Brad Boxberger earned his fifteenth save. Just another night in paradise.

Seth Lugo (2-1, 1.77) will face Zach Godley (6-5, 4.97) tonight at 9:40 p.m.

Photo credit: Rick Scuteri – USA Today Sports