Strasburg outpitches Santana as Mets lose

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the first game in franchise history, the Mets Wednesdayrolled back prices on some tickets to $2.50. Roger Craig, the man who started that 11-4 loss in St. Louis in 1962, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of 34,614, including more than 4,000 walkups.

Unfortunately, these Mets honored the '62 version a little too closely by resembling that 40-120 team in a 4-0 loss to the Nationals at Citi Field.

"We were lucky it was only 4-0," manager Terry Collins said after the Mets betrayed Johan Santana by striking out 15 times, managing only three hits and going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against Stephen Strasburg and three relievers.

The Mets also walked 10 batters and hit one. The first Washington run scored on Santana's wild pitch; two more scored on bases-loaded walks. For bad measure, the Mets threw in a Josh Thole passed ball in their second straight loss after a 4-0 start.

To add to the negative vibe, Collins was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing a questionable strike-three call on Jason Bay.

The Santana-Strasburg matchup was as good as advertised. Santana (0-1) allowed one run and five hits in five-plus innings (99 pitches) in his second start since major shoulder surgery. He walked three and struck out eight. On Opening Day, Santana threw five shutout innings against Atlanta.

"It was a tough challenge all day," Santana said. "But it was good to see that I was able to go beyond 80 pitches and go out there without any problems. Unfortunately, we didn't win."

Strasburg (1-0) was a bit better. He pitched six innings and gave up two hits, walked three and hit a batter. He struck out nine.

The Mets were without David Wright (broken pinkie) for the second straight game. Wright is hoping to avoid a stint on the disabled list.

"My gut tells me that you'll see him on Friday," Collins said. The Mets are off Thursdaybefore opening a series in Philadelphia Friday.

If that's wishful thinking, you can understand why. Wright is hitting .583; the Mets have scored two runs without him. Collins used Lucas Duda, Ike Davis and Bay Wednesdayas his 3-4-5 hitters and they combined to go 1-for-10 with a walk and six strikeouts. Davis (1-for-4) struck out twice before snapping a season-opening 0-for-18 streak with a sixth-inning single.

Bay, who continues to hear boos from the home fans, went 0-for-3 with two Ks before being removed in a double-switch in the seventh inning. (Justin Turner, who batted in Bay's spot in the eighth, also struck out).

Bay failed twice in RBI situations against Strasburg, including the sixth-inning strikeout that got Collins howling a half-inning later when he was making a pitching change.

With the Mets trailing 1-0 and runners on first and second and one out, Bay looked at a 2-and-2 pitch that appeared to be outside but was called strike three by plate umpire Larry Vanover. Bay protested, to no avail. The inning ended when Thole skied to center.

"I don't really say much [to umpires]," Bay said. "You're out there battling your butt off and Strasburg's pretty good in his own right."

Said Collins: "When we're walking 10 guys a game, I've got a lot of guts to go out and argue balls and strikes . . . but Jason Bay never says a word. When he's arguing, there's an issue."