Nationals 0 - 3 Mets
Final
  for this game

Nationals pay a visit to Mets

May 18, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals have yet another chance to climb back to .500 tonight when they visit the New York Mets to open a two-game midweek series at Citi Field.

Washington has already fallen below even and reached the .500 mark six times this season, the most recent coming on May 11 after winning the initial two games of a series with Atlanta to improve to 18-18.

The resilience has kept the Nationals on the fringes of contention in the top- heavy National League East Division, which is led by recent powerhouse Philadelphia at 25-16. Washington is fourth in the five-team loop, five games behind at 20-21.

The Nationals were rained out in the finale of a two-game series with Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

In a 4-2 Washington win on Monday, Danny Espinosa belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning just a half-inning after Andrew McCutchen's RBI triple tied the game for Pittsburgh. Jerry Hairston Jr. added a solo shot for the Nats.

Cole Kimball (1-0) secured his first major-league win despite allowing the triple to McCutchen. The run was charged to starter John Lannan, who allowed two on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Lefty Tom Gorzelanny faces the Mets for the third time this season and 12th time in his career when he toes the rubber tonight.

The 28-year-old was saddled with an 8-4 loss in his initial start of 2011 on April 9 in New York after allowing four hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

He got a no-decision in outing No. 2 against the Mets on April 27, this time giving up just a run on five hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

That start began a four-start unbeaten streak, which included defeats of San Francisco and Florida on May 2 and 7.

In the stretch, Gorzelanny has allowed 18 hits and seven runs in 26 innings.

The Mets reply with southpaw Jonathon Niese, who scattered seven hits and was touched for five runs in a 9-5 win at Colorado in his last start on May 12.

The win at least temporarily stemmed a tide that had seen him lose four of five decisions, though the Mets are 4-4 in games he's pitched.

The 24-year-old has pitched six innings or more in six of the eight outings and he's surrendered three runs or less five times.

In two career starts against Washington, Niese is 1-0 with a 5.56 earned run average in 11 1/3 innings.

Tuesday's game between the Florida Marlins and the Mets was postponed by rain.

It will be made up on July 18 at 7:10 p.m.

Florida won Monday's matchup, 2-1, in the 11th inning thanks to an RBI single in the top of the frame by reliever Burke Badenhop.

The Mets have split their six matchups with the Nationals this season.






Related News