The Washington Nationals and New York Mets are duking it out on Thursday afternoon with neither team wanting to give the other any ground. However, just as in the previous three games of the four game series the Nationals have been able to take the lead on the Mets. The Nats lead 2-1 going into the seventh.
If the Mets end up losing this one they might want to smack their own hands. In the top of the fifth Nats center fielder Rick Ankiel scored on a fielding error by first baseman Valentino Pascucci. Later in the inning shortstop Ian Desmond scored on a Ryan Zimmerman RBI sac fly. The Nationals have collected only four hits in six innings.
Nationals rookie starter Tom Milone has been showed his stuff and what he is capable of by pitching five innings and giving up only one run on three hits, walking three and striking out four. A much improved performance from his two previous ones. Reliever Colin Balester relieved him in the sixth and with two outs gave up a RBI double which was credited to Milone for the runner already on base.