Adding salt to Wood’s groundout would be what the Mets did in the bottom of the inning — scoring five two-out runs against MacKenzie Gore and Dylan Floro. The big hit came from Brandon Nimmo, a three-run double with the bases loaded that ended Gore’s afternoon.

One team produced key hits with two outs and runners on base, and the other didn’t. The Mets (47-45) swept the three-game series, while the Nationals (42-52) have dropped six of seven.

“Just no offense,” Manager Dave Martinez said. “We had our chances; we just couldn’t score any runs. The at-bats just got to get better with runners in scoring position. … I know we’re young, but we’re just pressing just too much and just trying to make things happen.”

Wood’s groundout underscored one of the few yellow flags surrounding the prospect. He hit groundballs 52.4 percent of the time with Class AAA Rochester, and it was one of the reasons the team cited for holding off on his call-up.

Wood, who finished 1 for 5 with a single, grounded out twice more Thursday, leaving him with a groundball rate of around 70 percent in his 41 at-bats since he was called up. The MLB average is 44.5 percent. And his average launch angle on his balls put in play was minus-8.1.

“He’s going to get the ball in the air,” Martinez said. “He’s adjusting to the league. The league is adjusting to him. What I like is he’s seeing pitches. But he’s going to be fine. All I know is, when he hits the ball, it’s hard.”

Wood had an average exit velocity of 94.6 mph before Thursday — if he had enough at-bats to qualify, that would place him between Shohei Ohtani (95.3) and Juan Soto (94.5). So Wood is hitting the ball with authority.

Still, in the first inning, Wood grounded out to Francisco Lindor. He struck out looking in the third on a borderline strike. He singled on a groundball to the opposite field in the eighth and struck out looking in the ninth.

“I just think it’ll be something that’ll even out,” Wood said about his groundballs. “Just trying to be on time when I go up there and just try to hit something hard. After I hit something hard, then maybe we can worry about where it’s going.”

Wood is two for his last 16, not uncommon for a rookie transitioning to the big leagues. He is batting .244 with an OPS of .695 just 11 games into his career while hitting at the top of a lineup that desperately needs a spark.

The Nationals had their chances against Mets left-hander David Peterson, especially early. They had runners on the corners in the first when Riley Adams flew out to center. In the second, Juan Yepez opened the inning with a double and Luis García Jr. singled. Then Peterson struck out Trey Lipscomb, Jacob Young and CJ Abrams, squandering the chance.

“We got to score early,” Martinez said. “We got to score first and relax a little bit and put the pressure on their team. They’re pressing a little bit. Everybody wants to drive that run in. Just work good at-bats.”

Gore did his part through four innings. He didn’t allow a hit until J.D. Martinez doubled with one out in the fourth. But Gore wasn’t efficient. He threw at least 17 pitches in each frame and was at 25 in the fifth before Martinez came out to get him.

The Nationals had their chances in the final two innings, too, loading the bases in both frames. But in the eighth, García grounded out to second base to end the threat, and in the ninth, Jesse Winker struck out swinging.

“Our whole team is in a funk right when it comes to hitting,” Martinez said. “We’re hitting but we’re not driving in runs. And the name of the game is to drive in runs. So hopefully we just had a bad couple of days. Come back tomorrow in Milwaukee and see if we can score some runs.”

Note: Jackson Rutledge will start Friday against the Brewers, Martinez announced after Thursday’s game. The Nationals recalled Joan Adon on Monday from Class AAA Rochester to give themselves another arm in the bullpen. But they optioned DJ Herz, who was scheduled to start Friday, in Adon’s place. Rutledge, a 25-year-old right-hander, has struggled with the Red Wings, going 4-5 with a 6.66 ERA and a 1.65 walks and hits per inning pitched in 16 starts.