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Beltran, Mets top Nationals

Apr 10, 2011 - 6:04 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a two-run and solo home run to help the New York Mets take an 8-4 win over the Washington Nationals in the middle game of a three-game set.

Ike Davis hit a two-run triple in the sixth and Jose Reyes added a two-run double in the eighth for the Mets, who snapped a three-game slide. Chris Capuano (1-0) worked six innings of four-run ball, giving up seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Danny Espinosa hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning while Ian Desmond added a solo shot for the Nationals, who had won their previous two. Tom Gorzelanny (0-1) was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

"I thought he did a good job and gave us a chance, he kept us in the game throughout," said Washington manager Jim Riggleman.

With one on and two outs in the first, Beltran clubbed a pitch over the wall in left for a 2-0 lead.

Espinosa countered with his three-run shot in the top of the second to put Washington on top by a run.

In the home fourth, Beltran tied the game with his second homer of the contest and second of the season.

"Yesterday at the plate I felt I had some good at-bats from the left side," Beltran said. "Today when I came to the gates I was working, trying to stay inside of the ball."

However, Desmond gave the Nationals the lead back with a solo shot to left to lead off the fifth.

In the sixth, the Mets went ahead for good. With two on and one out, Davis tripled home David Wright and Beltran and Daniel Murphy followed with a pinch- hit single for a 6-4 lead.

Reyes gave his team some insurance with a two-run double in the eighth for an 8-4 advantage.

Francisco Rodriguez, who got the final out of the eighth, worked around a pair of walks to start the ninth by getting Jayson Werth to hit into a double play and striking out Ryan Zimmerman for his first save of the season.

Game Notes

Each team won nine games in the series last season...Chris Young will work the mound for the Mets on Sunday in the rubber match and will be opposed by Jason Marquis for Washington...Washington batted just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.