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Gotay's hit makes Hernandez a winner in first game of DH

Jul 28, 2007 - 8:09 PM FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Ruben Gotay made sure Orlando Hernandez got the credit he deserved.

Gotay snapped a seventh-inning tie with an RBI single and Hernandez pitched seven strong innings as the New York Mets edged the Washington Nationals, 3-1, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Hernandez (7-4) allowed just one run and three hits, but appeared to be headed to his second straight no-decision when he was lifted for a pinch hitter leading off the seventh.

"If it's a no-decision, it's a no-decision," Hernandez said. "If my team wins in nine innings, that's good."

Although Damion Easley flew out to center field to begin the seventh, Jose Reyes followed with a double to right field off Saul Rivera (4-3) and scored when Gotay capped a nine-pitch at-bat by lining a single to right-center field to give New York a 2-1 lead.

Gotay had played against Rivera in the Puerto Rican Winter League, but that was not necessarily an advantage. "I knew him from Puerto Rico, but even if you know a guy he can make a good pitch," Gotay said. "I wasn't looking for anything in particular. I'll take it."

After a walk to David Wright, Carlos Delgado singled home the third run for New York.

Lastings Milledge drove in the first run for the Mets with a double in the fourth inning.

Hernandez struck out eight batters and walked two to win for the fourth time in five decisions. His only costly mistake was a sixth-inning home run to Felipe Lopez.

"Not many guys can do what he does, consistently throwing his breaking balls for strikes," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "It was vintage 'El Duque'."

Aaron Heilman retired the side in order in the eighth and Billy Wagner worked around some shaky throws by Reyes and Gotay to record his 24th save.

The Nationals were held to three hits, tying a season low.

"We lost the game, but I liked the way the guys played," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "It was a clean, well-played game."

Washington starter Tim Redding had another strong outing, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings. He also tied a career high with eight strikeouts and walked four.

"It was one of those pitcher's duels," Redding said. "I made one bad pitch to Milledge. Other than that, I was happy with the way things turned out, other than the fact we didn't get the 'W'."

The righthander has not allowed more than three runs in any of his five starts for the Nationals since being called up from Class AAA Columbus earlier this month.

Hernandez allowed just a single to D'Angelo Jimenez and two walks over the first five innings, striking out the side in the fifth. His first costly mistake came in the sixth when he left a 1-1 pitch over the plate that Lopez lined over the right field fence to tie it at 1-1.

The only run allowed by Redding came in the fourth. Carlos Delgado walked with one out and Ramon Castro singled before Milledge doubled off the left field wall to open the scoring.

Milledge has driven in seven runs in his last seven games.

Redding worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth, striking out Delgado and getting Castro to fly out to left field.

The Mets are playing a day-night doubleheader at Shea Stadium for just the second time. The other was against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 11, 1972.