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Nationals win in 11, take series from Mets

Apr 11, 2011 - 1:03 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Ivan Rodriguez singled home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning and Laynce Nix followed with a three-run homer, as the Washington Nationals earned a 7-3 win over the New York Mets in the rubber match of a three-game series at Citi Field.

After the Mets failed to take advantage of a Jose Reyes leadoff single in the bottom of the 10th inning and stranded two, the Nationals got a leadoff base hit in the 11th and cashed in.

Adam LaRoche opened the 11th with a single against Blaine Boyer (0-2) and took second on a pinch-bunt by pitcher Jordan Zimmermann. Danny Espinosa was hit by a pitch before Rodriguez slapped a single through the right side of the infield to score pinch-runner Wilson Ramos. Nix then drilled a Boyer offering over the right-center field wall for his first homer and a 7-3 edge.

Sean Burnett set the Mets down in order in the bottom of the inning, striking out a pair, to close out Washington's first series win of the season.

"I hope we keep getting clutch hits and keep it going into the next series," Nix said.

Drew Storen (1-1) picked up the win after holding the Mets off the board in the 10th. Reyes started the inning with a single, but Willie Harris could not get a bunt down before striking out. Reyes then took off for second as David Wright hit a slow bouncer toward third. While Jerry Hairston Jr. threw out Wright at first, Reyes continued all the way to third. Ike Davis was intentionally walked, but Storen got Angel Pagan on a bouncer to first to keep it tied.

Washington starter Jason Marquis went the first six innings and was charged with three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out nine. The bullpen yielded just one hit and one walk over the remaining five innings.

Chris Young was brilliant over seven innings for the Mets, surrendering just one hit and one run with two walks and five strikeouts. He retired the final nine batters he faced, but the bullpen couldn't hold a 3-1 lead in the eighth.

"It's always tough to take a guy out when he's pitching great," said Mets manager Terry Collins about the decision to lift Young after 108 pitches. "His past indicates that he begins to fatigue at that 100-pitch mark and he's had shoulder problems. He got us to the eighth inning. It's ashamed we couldn't win it for him."

D.J. Carrasco surrendered a leadoff double to Rodriguez to start the Washington eighth and Matt Stairs drew a one-out walk. Ian Desmond then blooped a single to center, scoring Rodriguez to pull the Nats within one. After Desmond stole second, Rick Ankiel grounded to second to chase home the tying run. Taylor Buchholz then came on for New York and issued a pair of walks to load the bases before fanning Michael Morse to keep the game tied.

The Mets scored twice in the bottom of the first. Reyes led off with a bunt single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out single by Wright. Davis then reached on a swinging bunt up the third base line and Pagan followed with a single to center, scoring Wright for a 2-0 edge.

Washington answered with a run in the second. LaRoche walked to start the inning and Morse singled. The runners pulled off a double steal with one out and Rodriguez's grounder to second chased home LaRoche.

The Mets picked up a two-out run in the fifth. After the first two batters were retired, Harris singled, took second on a walk to Wright and scored on a base hit by Davis.

Game Notes

Washington pitchers finished with 17 strikeouts...The Mets went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight...Washington left seven aboard and went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position...The Nationals had lost two of three to both Atlanta and Florida to start the season, and now head home to start a three-game set against Philadelphia on Tuesday...The Mets remain home and will open a four-game series against Colorado on Monday.