Nationals 6 - 4 Mets
Final
  for this game

Nats rally late to top Mets

Jun 29, 2013 - 4:41 AM Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Ryan Zimmerman hit a three-run double to tie the game in the eighth inning and Ian Desmond drove in the winning run in the ninth to lead the Washington Nationals to a 6-4 win over the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game set.

Desmond also hit a solo home run while Kurt Suzuki added an RBI for the Nationals, who have won three of four.

Ross Detwiler gave up three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over five innings, while Tyler Clippard (6-1) earned the win for a scoreless inning of relief.

Josh Satin went 3-for-3 with two RBI and David Wright had two hits and a run scored for the Mets, who had won three of four coming in.

Matt Harvey tossed seven strong innings for the Mets, giving up just three hits and a run while striking out 11. Bobby Parnell (5-4) was tagged with the loss for giving up a pair of runs in the ninth inning.

Washington trailed by three runs to start the eighth and Roger Bernadina began the frame with a single off David Aardsma. After the next two batters were set down, Josh Edgin took the hill and gave up a double to Denard Span before Brandon Lyon came out to pitch.

After Anthony Rendon walked to load the bases, Zimmerman punched a double to the gap in left-center to clear the bags for a 4-4 game.

"When Zim comes to the plate in a situation like that you know he's got a really good chance at it," said Detwiler. "You know, he's got a better chance at it than just about anybody else so you feel really good about it."

Clippard pitched around a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, and the Nationals went ahead in the ninth.

Jayson Werth and Desmond began the inning with consecutive doubles against Parnell to grab the lead with Desmond's hit going to right field. Desmond took third on a Bernadina line out then scored for a 6-4 lead on a Suzuki sacrifice fly.

Drew Storen retired the Mets in order in the ninth for his second save of the season.

"It's baseball and it happens," said Harvey. "Those guys go out every single day and pitch their butt off. Today just happened to be one of those days."

The game stayed scoreless until the fourth inning when the Mets went on top as Wright led off with a double and Marlon Byrd followed with a grounder to short that saw Desmond's throw hit Byrd, with the ball rolling into the outfield and Wright coming home to score.

New York loaded the bases with just one out later in the frame, but Omar Quintanilla popped out and Harvey grounded out to end the inning.

Harvey carried a perfect game into the fifth inning and got the first two batters out, but Desmond drilled a pitch into the left field stands to end the bid.

Eric Young singled to start the fifth and stayed on first until Byrd doubled with two outs, scoring Young. Satin followed with a base hit to left for a 3-1 lead.

The Mets padded their lead in the seventh as Daniel Murphy singled to start the frame and later scored on a double to right-center by Satin for a 4-1 advantage.

Game Notes

The Mets batted 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base ... Each team has won three games in the season series ... Harvey has given up one run or less in 11 of his 17 starts this season.






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