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Kearns, Langerhans help Nationals continue to stymie Mets

Sep 25, 2007 - 4:36 AM By Doug Mittler PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - The Washington Nationals remain a September thorn in the side of the New York Mets.

Austin Kearns and Ryan Langerhans hit three-run homers, while Ronnie Belliard doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Nationals again slowed down the Mets' drive toward the National League East title with a 13-4 victory Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

The loss reduced the Mets' (87-69) lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies (85-71) to two games. New York's magic number for clinching its second straight NL East title remains at five. The idle Phillies open a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.

New York would be closer to the title if not for three losses in four games this month to the fourth-place Nationals, who are managed by former Mets coach Manny Acta.

"I take no satisfaction in hurting the Mets," Acta said. "We have to go out and play hard. We're not going to roll over."

Moises Alou extended his club-record hitting streak to 28 games for the Mets, who saw their three-game winning streak end.

The Nationals, who play the Mets and Phillies exclusively over the final two weeks of the season, did most of their damage off rookie Mike Pelfrey, who was charged with seven runs - six earned - and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"I tried to step off and stop and take my time," said Pelfrey, admitting he was a bit out of sync. "I felt good. I just lost my command."

Pelfrey (3-8), who walked five and struck out three, had won his three previous starts this month after being recalled from the minor leagues.

The Nationals did the bulk of their scoring in the middle frames with two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth.

"I don't have any explanation," center fielder Carlos Beltran said of the Nationals' success. "They have nothing to lose. They come here and try to knock us out of the race. That's their motivation."

The Nationals outburt enabled Matt Chico (6-9) to win on the road for the first time in seven decisions this season. The rookie lefthander allowed three runs and scattered nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I really didn't feel all that great," Chico said. "I just tried to get through innings and get some outs."

Ryan Zimmerman singled in the fourth and went to third on a hit-and-run single by Kearns before Robert Fick singled home a run on a ball that was misplayed by Alou in left field, allowing a second run to score.

Pelfrey walked Zimmerman and Ryan Church with two outs in the fifth and Kearns followed with his 15th home run to make 5-1.

Pelfrey walked a pair of batters in the sixth and was lifted with two outs before Belliard greeted reliever Joe Smith with a two-run double.

The Mets scored twice in the sixth when Alou doubled and scored on a single by Paul Lo Duca. Jose Reyes drove in a run with a groundout off reliever Saul Rivera to make it 7-3. Rivera kept it a four-run game by getting Luis Castillo to ground out to end the inning.

Beltran threw out Felipe Lopez at home trying to score on a single by D'Angelo Jimenez in the eighth, but Belliard followed with an RBI double and Church lined a two-run double off Guillermo Mota to make it 10-3. That drew loud boos from the Shea stadium faithful.

"We're not getting it done in a lot of areas," Mets third baseman David Wright said. "We were getting embarrassed with the season on the line on our home field."

Langerhans hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Dave Williams to make it 13-3.

The Mets scored a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gomez.