Nationals Vs. Mets: Stephen Strasburg Strikes Out 11, Washington Completes Sweep With 5-2 Win

The Washington Nationals completed their sweep of the New York Mets on Wednesday on the strength of 11 strikeouts from starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, winning 5-2. Strasburg lasted seven innings allowing only one run on four hits. The lone run he allowed was a solo home run by Mets first baseman Ike Davis in the bottom of the second inning.

The Nationals hopped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of solo home runs by Nationals left fielder Michael Morse and shortstop Danny Espinosa. Catcher Sandy Leon extended the lead in the fifth inning by grounding into a fielder's choice, scoring Espinosa. First baseman Adam Laroche hit a two run home run in the seventh inning to close out the scoring.

This victory puts the Nationals 4.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals next series will be a four game series at Miller Park against the Milwaukee Brewers beginning on Thursday.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Preview: Washington Seeking Sweep

The Washington Nationals play an afternoon matinee against the New York Mets on Wednesday. After winning the first two games of the series, Washington can pull off the sweep.

On the hill for the Nationals is none other than Stephen Strasburg. The budding ace struggling in his last outing, giving up four runs and failing to make it through six innings in a loss to the Atlanta Braves. He won his last outing against the Mets, a nine-strikeout performance on April 11.

New York counters with fill-in starter Jeremy Heffner. In three starts this season, he has a 1-2 record and a 6.89 ERA. His last start was a June 6 loss to the Nationals.

Washington's lineup looks like this:

Nats vs. Mets: Lombardozzi 4, Harper 9, Zim, LaRoche, Morse 7, Espinosa 6, Bernadina 8, Leon, Strasburg

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 25, 2012

The Mets counter with this lineup:

#Mets Wednesday lineup vs. Nats: Tejada-SS, Valdespin-LF, Wright-3B, Davis-1B, Murphy-2B, Nieuwenhuis-RF, Thole-C, Torres-CF, Hefner-RHP

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 25, 2012

The game starts at 12:10 p.m. Fans can watch it live on MASN.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets: Adam LaRoche's Big Blast Leads Washington To 5-2 Win

It took the Washington Nationals three games to do it, but they finally figured out R.A. Dickey. Adam LaRoche's sixth-inning home run broke a 1-1 tie and the Nationals went on to defeat the New York Mets, 5-2 Thursday night at Citi Field.

In a reversal of last Thursday's pitching match-up, Gio Gonzalez (13-5) got the better of Dickey, allowing just one unearned run on two hits over seven innings. Dickey (13-2) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits over six innings.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Scott Hairston scored on Ronny Cedeno's single to right field. The Nats leveled the score in the fourth inning when Ryan Zimmerman scored on Danny Espinosa's double. After LaRoche's home run, Washington padded their lead by two more runs as Espinosa scored on Jesus Flores' single and Roger Bernadina came around to score when Jason Bay's throw went awry.

Jordany Valdespin completed the scoring by hitting a pinch-hit, solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Lineups: Washington With Minimal Changes On Tuesday

The Washington Nationals will take on the New York Mets in the second of their three games this week and both teams have released their lineups for Tuesday. The Nats are keeping things the same as on Monday night with the exception of Jesu Flores who goes back to starting at catcher.

First off, the lineups for the Nats, courtesy of the Twitter feed of Adam Kilgore, Nationals beat writer for the Washington Post:

Nats vs. Dickey: Lombo 4, Harper 9, Zimmerman, Morse 7, LaRoche, Espinosa 6, Bernadina 8, Flores 2, Gio

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 24, 2012

And now the lineups for the Mets from their official Twitter account:

#Mets Tuesday lineup vs. Washington: Torres-CF, Murphy-2B, Wright-3B, Hairston-RF, Davis-1B, Bay-LF, Cedeno-SS, Nickeas-C, Dickey-RHP

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 24, 2012

First pitch from Citi Field will be at 7:10 p.m. ET.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Preview: Washington Gets Third Chance Against R.A. Dickey

Since losing to the Atlanta Braves on April 18 in his third start of the season, R.A. Dickey of the Mets has not lost and earned an NL-best 13 wins. Of those 13 wins, two came against the NL's best team, the Washington Nationals, but they'll get a third chance against the All-Star on Tuesday night.

On the heels of an offensive explosion in the tenth inning of Monday's game at Citi Field, the Nationals will look to win their fourth straight. Taking the mound for the NL East leaders will be Gio Gonzalez who struggled mightily against the Mets in his last start on Thursday. After giving up six runs early, Gonzalez was pulled in the fourth inning and earned his second consecutive defeat.

Gonzalez will need to bounce back from his last performance and the Nationals offense will need to keep clicking if the team hopes for a win in their third try against the NL's winningest pitcher.

The first pitch at Citi Field will be thrown at 7:10 p.m. and will be televised on MASN and SNY.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Recap: Bryce Harper, Offense Explode In 10th For 8-2 Win

The Nationals offense was held scoreless for eight straight innings on Monday night at a rain-socked Citi Field but the lineup broke out in a big way in the top of the 10th, putting six runs on the board for their biggest inning of the season so far. When it was all said and done, the Nats batted around and walked away with an 8-2 victory in their series opener against the Mets. The game was bookended by two runs in the first and then the offensive explosion in extra innings.

Bryce Harper provided most of the offense until the sluggers behind him decided to pour it on in the 10th. Harper was responsible for knocking in Washington's first three runs. The rookie phenom took a Chris Young pitch over the wall in right to promptly put the Nats ahead 2-0 in the first.

Young would settle in, however, and the Nationals would go quiet until extras. With the bases loaded, Harper took a Pedro Beato pitch to right field to score Sandy Leon for the winning run. Leon was held on the muddy track one batter earlier as Stephen Lombardozzi singled back up the middle. But Harper would make the move to hold him pay off with the game-winning single.

With three ducks still on the pond, the Player of the Week Ryan Zimmerman would remove all doubt with a bases-clearing double that went over the centerfielder's head and died at the wall. Harper was hot on the heels of Lombardozzi and scored easily from first to push the lead to 6-2. Michael Morse then added to the big inning by going the other way with a Beato pitch, hammering a liner over the right field wall.

It was a great extra innings victory, with the big bats coming through in the clutch. While he didn't get the win, Jordan Zimmermann was fantastic again. He allowed just one run and four hits through six innings of work. He also struck out six in what was his 18th quality outing in his last 20 starts.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Lineup: Jesus Flores Gets Another Day Off

Confusion over news of the Ryan Dempster trade is still befuddling pundits and fans alike. Is he or is he not heading to Atlanta in the Nation League East? Either way, the first-place Washington Nationals march on, opening a series on Monday night against the New York Mets.

The Nationals' lineup was revealed this afternoon. For the second day in a row, Jesus Flores gets a day off. Flores is dealing with a stiff back, and manager Davey Johnson wants him to get through batting practice before putting him back in the starting lineup, according to Mark Zuckerman of CSN Washington. Other than that, it things look to be as expected for the team's lineup.

Adam Kilgore from the Washington Post has the details.

Nats vs. Young: Lombo 4, Harper 9, Zim, Morse 7, LaRoche, Espinosa 4, Bernadina 8, Leon 2, Zimmermann. 2nd day off for Flores.

— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 23, 2012

Espinosa will actually be at shortstop.

The Mets' lineup looks like this:

#Mets Monday lineup vs. Washington: Tejada-SS, Valdespin-RF, Wright-3B, Davis-1B, Murphy-2B, Bay-LF, Nieuwenhuis-CF, Thole-C, Young-RHP

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 23, 2012

The game starts at 7:10 p.m. Eastern at Citi Field in New York.

For all things Nationals, check out Federal Baseball. For the New York Mets perspective, head over to Amazin' Avenue. Stay tuned to this StoryStream for updates throughout the series. Keep up with all the trade deadline action at Baseball Nation.

Nationals Vs. Mets Preview: Jordan Zimmermann Starts First Game Of Series At New York

The Washington Nationals begin a three game series with the New York Mets on Monday night. The Nationals send pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, arguably their best pitcher as of late, to the hill.