Noah Syndergaard, of the Mets, attributes his mediocrity to his slider

WASHINGTON – Noah Syndergaard is still looking for his cursor.

Right-handed Mets blamed his inability to exploit this pitch for his neglected performance in the team's 11-8 win over the Nationals on Saturday.

In six innings, Syndergaard earned four earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. He left after 103 pitches.

"My slider has really sucked today," said Syndergaard. "I just could not feel anything. Sort of mediocre output, mediocre results. It's more a matter of mentality, just trust the catch and throw it away right away. "

After allowing three innings early, Syndergaard appeared to be gaining strength in fourth and fifth places, avoiding trouble in the final set with Victor Robles moving to first base. But in the sixth, Juan Soto scored a brace and scored on Kurt Suzuki's sacrificial volley, evening 4-4.

"I improved as the game progressed," said Syndergaard. "I went from focusing to stretching because I was a bit tight. So I felt that I could not stay consistent with my release point because of my balance since the focus, so I just eliminated that and went straight to stretch and it worked. "

Seth Lugo came in to record the final of the eighth inning with goals tied on the base. After the Mets scored three points in the ninth to take an 11-5 lead, manager Mickey Callaway was stuck with the right-handed man because he had already warmed twice and that he would unavailable Sunday.

Lugo allowed four points in the ninth – three of which were not earned as a result of Robinson Cano's mistake – and was eliminated with two outs. He needed 41 locations. Edwin Diaz needed only one run to put Suzuki to retirement, putting an end to the match.

Todd Frazier had four runs on third base and scored a draw against four in his extended spring training at Port St. Lucie, his first game of the spring. Frazier missed the grapefruit league season with a tense left diagonal. Travis d'Arnaud scored nine innings for the first time this spring in the same match and rose to 0-3.

Jed Lowrie started at Nationals Park before the game, but he is behind Frazier in his rehab center. Lowrie missed the exhibitor season with a left knee capsule.