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Wright leads way as Mets continue dominance of Nationals

Aug 19, 2007 - 4:31 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- David Wright made sure the New York Mets continued to enjoy their stay in the nation's capital.

Wright hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the fifth inning and Moises Alou added an RBI two-base hit in the seventh to lead the Mets to a 7-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

Luis Castillo homered and drove in two runs, while Jose Reyes had two hits and scored twice for New York (69-53), which has won 19 of the last 24 visits here and leads the Philadelphia Phillies (65-57) by four games in the National League East Division.

With the score tied at 2-2, Reyes singled and Castillo reached on a bunt single. Wright plated both runners with an opposite-field double to right off rookie starter John Lannan (1-2) to put the Mets ahead.

"We're starting to click," Wright said. "We've been swinging the bats well enough for a week, a week and a half. The top of the order guys are getting on, setting the table, stealing some bases, giving our guys a lot of RBI opportunities."

Wright's double helped make a winner of Oliver Perez (11-8), who was 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA over his previous four starts. The lefthander labored through 5 2/3 innings in this one, allowing three runs and seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

"We've been swinging the bats well for a while," New York manager Willie Randolph said. "We've been patient and good hitters do that consistently. I like how we've been swinging the bats so far."

With the Mets in front, 5-2, in the sixth, Perez yielded a two-out double by newly acquired Wily Mo Pena and an RBI single by Jesus Flores. He exited after allowing a double by Nook Logan and walking pinch hitter Tony Batista to load the bases.

However, Guillermo Mota came in and got Felipe Lopez to hit a soft comebacker to end the threat. Jorge Sosa relieved Mota in the seventh and got the final two outs of the inning and Aaron Heilman threw a scoreless eighth before Billy Wagner worked the ninth for his 29th save in 30 chances.

Wright helped pad the lead by leading off the seventh with a double and scoring on Alou's two-base hit to make it 6-4. Lastings Milledge provided an RBI single in the ninth for the final margin.

The Mets took an early lead in the first as Castillo hit his first home run since July 16, 2006 - a solo shot to left off Lannan.

Castillo and Reyes had a home run hitting contest during batting practice, and Castillo was ready for some real action.

"I know I have more power righthanded. I don't know what's going on. I feel loose righthanded," Castillo said. "I see a lot of lefties this series."

"It was a good pitch," Lannan said. "He just fought it off. It's going to happen."

New York doubled the lead in the second as Reyes led off with a double and stole third. Castillo reached on an error by shortstop Lopez, which allowed Reyes to score.

"Against teams like this, we always say we have to play close to perfect," Nationals manager Manny Acta said.

"Obviously, giving them extra outs and making mistakes on 0-2 counts with balls right down the middle of the plate, that's not perfection," Acta said of Castillo's at-bat.

Washington got even in the second as Logan lifted a sacrifice fly and Lannan helped his own cause with an RBI single.

Lannan allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to remain winless in his last three starts.

Austin Kearns had two hits and drove in a run for Washington, which has lost six of eight.