SB Nation DC - Nationals Defeat Mets 13-3 Thanks To Two Danny Espinosa Home Runshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2010-09-06T11:17:52-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14365442010-09-06T11:17:52-04:002010-09-06T11:17:52-04:00Nationals Take On Mets In Labor Day Matinee
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<p>Washington, DC (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/70539/Danny_Espinosa">Danny Espinosa</a> had the best game of his very young career as he hit a grand slam and a solo home run to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/washington-nationals">Washington Nationals</a> to a 13-3 rout of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/new-york-mets">New York Mets</a> in the opener of a three-game set.</p>
<p>Espinosa, playing just the fifth game of his career after joining the team on September 1, went 4-for-5 with six RBI for the Nationals, who have won three straight. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/277/Ivan_Rodriguez">Ivan Rodriguez</a> drove in three runs, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31274/Roger_Bernadina">Roger Bernadina</a> scored three times in the win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/69267/Jordan_Zimmermann">Jordan Zimmermann</a> went just four innings in the start and was charged with three runs -- one earned -- on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/466/Scott_Olsen">Scott Olsen</a> (4-8) worked four innings of hitless ball to pick up the win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/69238/Josh_Thole">Josh Thole</a> drove in two runs for the Mets, who have lost six of their last eight. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/912/Mike_Pelfrey">Mike Pelfrey</a> (13-9) was tagged for six runs on five hits with three walks over 3 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>The Mets got on the board in the first inning with a pair of runs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/706/Angel_Pagan">Angel Pagan</a> led off with a single and promptly stole second. Two batters later, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31101/Chris_Carter">Chris Carter</a> beat out an infield single and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/873/David_Wright">David Wright</a> followed with a sacrifice fly to score Pagan. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Thole worked a free pass to score Carter for a 2-0 lead.</p>
<p>The Mets added a run in the third inning on an RBI single from Thole that plated Carter for a 3-0 lead.</p>
<p>Washington got one back in the third when Espinosa led off the frame with a shot over the left field wall.</p>
<p>In the fourth, the Nationals surged ahead with a five-run frame. After consecutive one-out walks, Rodriguez doubled to chase home both runners. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/19119/Mike_Morse">Mike Morse</a> then singled to give Washington the lead. Later in the inning, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/17626/Nyjer_Morgan">Nyjer Morgan</a> singled to bring home Morse and a walk with the bases loaded by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/840/Kevin_Mench">Kevin Mench</a> gave the team a 6-3 lead.</p>
<p>Washington tacked on another run in the fifth as Espinosa's single to center plated Bernadina for a 7-3 advantage.</p>
<p>The Nationals added another five runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Rodriguez and a grand slam off the bat of Espinosa for a 12-3 lead.</p>
<p>Ryan Zimmerman's RBI single in the seventh made it a 13-3 contest.</p>
<p>Washington has taken eight of the 13 games against New York this season...Before the game, the Mets brought up pitchers <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/69235/Dillon_Gee">Dillon Gee</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/1075/Sean_Green">Sean Green</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/108049/Raul_Valdes">Raul Valdes</a> and outfielder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/32700/Jesus_Feliciano">Jesus Feliciano</a> from Triple-A Buffalo. Gee will start Tuesday's game as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/733/Johan_Santana">Johan Santana</a> was scratched from his scheduled start with a strained pectoral muscle...Washington right fielder <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/955/Willie_Harris">Willie Harris</a> left the game after crashing into the outfield wall in the third inning on a Carter double. Harris was replaced by Morse...Pelfrey has dropped his past two starts.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2010/9/6/2320545/nationals-take-on-mets-in-labor-day-matineeMike Prada