SB Nation DC - Home Sweet Home: Nationals Take First Of Four From Metshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-07-01T23:10:07-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13119862010-07-01T23:10:07-04:002010-07-01T23:10:07-04:00Ryan Zimmerman's RBI Sacrifice Fly Gives Nationals Walkoff 2-1 Victory
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<p>Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning sent the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/WAS">Washington Nationals</a> to a 2-1 victory over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/NYM">New York Mets</a> to begin a four-game series at Nationals Park.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/823/Pedro_Feliciano">Pedro Feliciano</a> (2-4) came in to keep the game tied in the home ninth, but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/955/Willie_Harris">Willie Harris</a> began the rally with a one-out walk. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/17626/Nyjer_Morgan">Nyjer Morgan</a> followed with a perfectly executed bunt that went for an infield single, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/513/Cristian_Guzman">Cristian Guzman</a> singled to left to load the bases.</p>
<p>Ryota Igarshi came on to get out of the jam, but Zimmerman's fly ball was just deep enough to plate Harris when right fielder Jeff Francoeur's throw was off- line.</p>
<p>Morgan finished with two hits and an RBI, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33859/Ian_Desmond">Ian Desmond</a> and Guzman also had a pair of hits apiece for the Nationals, who have won six of the nine games against the Mets this season. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/759/Livan_Hernandez">Livan Hernandez</a> dropped his earned run average to 2.98 after throwing seven innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits while fanning seven with no walks.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/366/Matt_Capps">Matt Capps</a> (1-3) earned the win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/733/Johan_Santana">Johan Santana</a> pitched well enough to win, giving up one run, six hits and two walks in seven frames, but the Mets lost for the third time in four games. Ike Davis' RBI single in the first provided the only offense.</p>
<p>The Mets got on the board with a run in the first. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/32700/Jesus_Feliciano">Jesus Feliciano</a> led off the game with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After David Wright struck out, Davis' single plated Feliciano for the early lead.</p>
<p>Santana was on his game from the outset, allowing just one runner to reach scoring position in the first four innings.</p>
<p>Washington nearly tied it up in the fifth, when Desmond led off with a double that glanced off the top of the wall in deep left-center. Desmond advanced to third on a groundout, but was stranded after Hernandez struck out and Morgan flied out.</p>
<p>Hernandez was sharp following the first inning, as well. He retired Feliciano with runners on second and third in the second and didn't allow another New York player to reach scoring position through the seventh. Washington finally gave him some support with the tying run in the seventh inning.</p>
<p>In the Washington seventh, Desmond led off with a single and went to second on a bunt. After moving to third on a wild pitch with two outs, Morgan lined a key RBI single to left to equalize the game.</p>
<p>The Nats began a 10-game homestand to finish the season's first half and will also play San Diego and San Francisco...Mets shortstop <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/870/Jose_Reyes">Jose Reyes</a> did not play for the second straight game after he experienced stiffness in his right side on Wednesday.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/7/1/1548618/nationals-mets-score-recap-ryan-zimmerman-walkoffAlex Reed2010-07-01T17:04:28-04:002010-07-01T17:04:28-04:00Ian Desmond Back In The Starting Lineup
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<p>After being benched for two games, it appears Ian Desmond will be back in the lineup tonight. <a href="http://twitter.com/Russellmania09/statuses/17519283509">According</a> to 106.7 The Fan’s Chris Russell, he will start at shortstop and hit seventh.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Mets <a href="http://twitter.com/Russellmania09/statuses/17519566306">will not start</a> Jose Reyes, Angel Pegan and Rod Barajas.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/7/1/1547978/ian-desmond-nationals-starting-shortstop-metsMike Prada2010-07-01T16:58:51-04:002010-07-01T16:58:51-04:00Nationals Back At Home For Series Vs. Mets
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<p>(Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/733/Johan_Santana">Johan Santana</a> tries to avoid a third straight loss this evening when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/NYM">New York Mets</a> begin a four-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/WAS">Washington Nationals</a> at Nationals Park.</p>
<p>Santana has actually lost three of his last four outings and has surrendered 17 runs in those starts, spanning 25 2/3 innings. His latest setback came on Saturday against Minnesota, which reached Santana for five runs and eight hits in five innings, dropping the former Twin and two-time American League Cy Young Award winner to 5-5 on the season, while raising his earned run average to 3.55.</p>
<p>"It's part of the game. There's only so much I can do," Santana said about his recent struggles. "I know I have to do my job on the mound and try to give the team a chance to win."</p>
<p>A visit to Washington may be just what Santana needs, as the left-hander is 6-2 lifetime against the Nats with a 3.23 ERA in eight starts. However, he lost his last outing to them, surrendering five runs in five innings back on April 11.</p>
<p>Santana could be without shortstop <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/870/Jose_Reyes">Jose Reyes</a> behind him this evening. Reyes was a late scratch for the finale of the Mets' three-game series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/FLA">Florida Marlins</a> on Wednesday in Puerto Rico due to stiffness in his right side.</p>
<p>"I wanted to play today, but I have to be careful with this," said Reyes. "I don't want to rush anything. There's still a lot of baseball left, so I just have to take it easy."</p>
<p>The Mets didn't miss Reyes on Wednesday, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/873/David_Wright">David Wright</a> stroked a two-run double and he and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/32700/Jesus_Feliciano">Jesus Feliciano</a> each had two hits in a 6-5 win at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.</p>
<p>New York won for just the third time in its last seven games, but still finished June with an 18-8 mark.</p>
<p>"We needed a win," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "That's why we kind of took the chances that we did."</p>
<p>Mets starter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/912/Mike_Pelfrey">Mike Pelfrey</a>, who came in 1-6 lifetime against the Marlins, departed after giving up 12 hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/1055/Elmer_Dessens">Elmer Dessens</a> (2-1) entered the game with runners at the corners, but retired pinch-hitter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/352/Mike_Lamb">Mike Lamb</a> on a ground ball to end the fifth and earned the win.</p>
<p>Washington, meanwhile, enters on a sour note after dropping the rubber match of its three-game set with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/ATL">Atlanta Braves</a>, 4-1, on Wednesday at Turner Field.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/31813/J_D_Martin">J.D. Martin</a> (0-4) was charged with six hits and three runs over five innings, as the Nationals lost for the sixth time in seven games and have now dropped nine straight road series.</p>
<p>Washington hopes <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/759/Livan_Hernandez">Livan Hernandez</a> can get it back on the right track this evening, as he tries to improve upon a 6-4 mark. Hernandez was roughed up his last time out on Saturday in Baltimore, but did not get a decision in the 6-5 loss, despite allowing five runs in six innings to raise his ERA to 3.10.</p>
<p>Hernandez has faced the Mets 34 times and is 12-13 with a 4.38 ERA. He gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings to them back on May 19, but did not get a decision in the 5-3 win.</p>
<p>Washington has won five of its eight meetings this season with the Mets, who are only 1-6 in their last seven visits to DC.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/7/1/2317329/nationals-back-at-home-for-series-vs-metsJordan Ruby