Mets 2 - 3 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Zimmerman takes the hill for Nats in finale with Mets

Jul 31, 2011 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - One day after trading away Jason Marquis from their starting rotation, Jordan Zimmerman aims to pick up the pieces for the Nationals and snap a personal two-game skid in the final of a three-game series against the Mets.

With today's 4 p.m. (et) trading deadline, the Nationals are once again sellers on the market and proved that yesterday when Marquis was dealt to playoff-contender Arizona in exchanged for minor league infielder Zachary Walters.

Zimmerman has surrendered 12 runs over those contests, losses to the Marlins and Astros. The righty is 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA in six games against the Mets.

Countering for New York will be Jonathon Niese, who is 3-1 over his last five starts. The southpaw has yet to lose to the Nationals, going 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA in three games. In his most recent start, Tuesday at Cincinnati, Niese gave up five runs over five frames.

The Nationals snapped their six-game losing streak with a replacement starter last night. Now, they might lose him as well. Yunesky Maya got the start after Marquis was traded and threw 5 1/3 shutout innings for his first MLB win in a 3-0 final.

Maya (1-1) allowed just five hits, without any strikeouts or walks, but he strained his back running the bases and was taken out with two runners on in the sixth.

"I imagine he'll have to go on the [disabled list]," said Nationals manager Davey Johnson.

Jayson Werth hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (5-9) and the Nationals pitching kept the New York bats silent the rest of the way.

Ross Detwiler, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen finished the shutout for Maya. Storen, the subject of simmering trade rumors, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 26th save.

David Wright, Jason Bay and Josh Thole had two hits apiece for the Mets, who had their five-game winning streak snapped.

Wright can tie a franchise record today if he can get at least two hits. Steven Henderson holds the mark with eight multiple-hit games in a row from July 12-21, 1979. Since returning from the disabled list, Wright is 19-for-40.

The Mets have won six of 10 from the Nats this season.






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