Christian Scott serves up key homer as Mets blow five-run lead in loss to Nationals

WASHINGTON — Christian Scott’s return to the big leagues fell one out short of impressive Wednesday night.Luis Garcia Jr.was the rookie right-hander’s final batter of the game regardless of the outcome.

Scott left a sweeper over the plate and the Nationals’ second baseman crushed it for a three-run homer, starting a downward slide that ended with a 7-5 loss for the Mets at Nationals Park on Tuesday.The Mets (42-42), who led 5-0, missed an opportunity to move two games over .500 for the first time since April 24.As has been the case lately when the Mets lose, the bullpen was a factor.Jake Diekman surrendered two earned runs in only 1/3 of an inning before Garcia Jr.’s second homer of the game, against Ty Adcock, gave the Nationals their margin of victory.

For the first time in four games, the Mets didn’t need extra innings to decide the outcome.Scott, back in the rotation after starting five games for the Mets in May and returning to Triple-A Syracuse, allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.At 97 pitches with two runners on base, he remained in the game to face Garcia in the sixth and watched his pitch rocket into the right-field seats to erase most of the Mets’ 5-1 lead....