WASHINGTON — It doesn’t get much more embarrassing than this for the Mets: a 7-1 pounding by the worst team in baseball that included a blooper-reel double play and one the worst outings of John Maine‘s career. At least the Nationals needed only two hours Saturday night to finish off Jerry Manuel‘s club. That fourth-inning double play involving Luis Castillo and Emil Brown was high comedy.

In the notes, Manuel explained the team’s reasons for keeping outfield prospect Fernando Martinez on the roster.