THE RESULT: Even with news that their manager and general manager will be fired when the season ends, the New York Mets found enough effort to deliver loss 92 to the Washington Nationals, 2-1, at Citifield before 29,424.
The Nats, on the other hand, looked like they can't wait until the season is over.
They were three-hit by Pat Misch and Hisanori Takahashi. They struck out 14 times. They made two more errors in the outfield, including the centerfielder running into the left fielder while he was camped underneath it.
And the Mets won the battle of solo home runs.
Washington has scored eight runs in their last six games and has just 11 hits in the last four games. With two games remaining, they need to win both to react the elusive 70-win total.
Jordan Zimmermann pitched extremely well over six innings in his final start of the season. He gave up just three hits, and did not walk a batter, striking out three. The only run he gave up was a solo shot to rookie first baseman Ike Davis, his 19th of the season.
Tyler Clippard, however, suffered a worse fate. His string of 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, covering 17 innings, came to a screeching halt in the bottom of the tenth, as catcher Josh Thole took him deep for his third home run of the season.
THE GOOD: Michael Morse hit a solo home run, his 14th of the season.
THE BAD: Alberto Gonzalez and Justin Maxwell both struck out three times in four trips to the plate.
THE UGLY: Nyjer Morgan ignored Justin Maxwell called for a fly ball in straight-away left field, running into Maxwell, causing the ball to fall harmlessly to the ground. It didn't contribute to a run, but it's just more evidence of the defensive dysfunction of this team.
THE STATS: 14 Ks, 2 BBs, 0-for-2 with RISP, 4 LOB, 0 GIDP.
NEXT GAME: Saturday at 1:10 pm against the Mets. Yunesky Maya (0-3, 6.43) faces Raul Valdes (3-3, 5.23).
The outfield collision continues to reaffirm Nyjer's Gump-like baseball IQ.