• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Nationals hand Peacock ball at New York

Sep 14, 2011 - 2:55 PM (Sports Network) - Rookie right-hander Brad Peacock makes the first start of his major-league career tonight when the Washington Nationals play the New York Mets in the third test of a four-game set at Citi Field.

A 23-year-old from Palm Beach, Fla., Peacock was a 41st-round draft choice out of high school in 2006 and pitched for six teams in six leagues in five seasons while climbing through Washington's minor-league system.

He was 34-38 overall with a 3.93 earned run average in 113 games since 2007, but ratcheted things up in 2011, going 15-3 in Double-A and Triple-A with a 2.39 ERA over 146 2/3 innings.

He relieved phenom Stephen Strasburg in his big-league debut on Sept. 6 against Los Angeles and gave up a run on four hits in 1 1/3 innings of a game Washington lost, 7-3.

The Nationals are using an extra pitcher in order to give Strasburg five days' rest between starts.

In Tuesday's second game, Ryan Zimmerman singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, sending Washington past the Mets, 3-2.

Rick Ankiel and Michael Morse each drove in a run for the Nationals, who have won three straight and four of five games, including Monday's opener by the same score.

Craig Stammen (1-1) earned the win in relief of starter Chien-Ming Wang, who gave up two runs on nine hits over five innings.

Dillon Gee lasted 5 2/3 frames and was charged with two runs on six hits for New York, which has dropped four straight and six of seven games.

The Mets will start 6-foot-7 righty Mike Pelfrey, who's 0-1 in three appearances since winning, 7-4, at Philadelphia on Aug. 24.

He dropped a 6-0 verdict against Florida in a subsequent outing on Aug. 30 before getting a no-decision in his 17th career start against the Nationals on Sept. 4, a game the Mets won, 6-3.

Pelfrey is 4-6 overall against Washington with a 4.30 ERA in 120 2/3 innings, allowing 104 hits and 51 runs with 47 walks and 53 strikeouts.

The Mets are 5-5 in his last 10 starts, with Pelfrey going 2-2 with six no- decisions in that span.

New York has split its 16 meetings with Washington this season.