The Washington Nationals took game two to even up their series with division foe New York on Tuesday night, getting a 6-2 win at Citi Field. The Nats' bats came alive against Mets' starter Dillon Lee the third time through the order, chasing Lee in the 6th and breaking it open. Ross Detwiler put in five scoreless innings of work and the bullpen kept the New York offense bottled up for their first loss of the season. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Nats and put them back above .500 at 3-2 in the first week of the season.
Ross Detwiler became the first Nationals' starter to get a win this year, pitching five innings, giving up only two hits and striking out six. It was an impressive performance from the Nats' fifth starter, who slammed the door on a first inning Mets threat and then handed it to the bullpen in the 6th. Craig Stammen and Tyler Clippard would each give up a run but the bullpen did not let New York string together a big inning. Brad Lidge came in and finished it off with two strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth.
On offense, it was Jayson Werth who went to work for Davey Johnson's club. Werth smoked one off the wall last night that would have been a homer in almost any other park, and he came back on Tuesday with a four-hit game. He hasn't had the best first week of the season but he has driven the ball in this series so far. He knocked in Ryan Zimmerman on two occasions on Tuesday. Werth also scored from second on a double-play ball behind him that was bobbled by second baseman Daniel Murphy.
In addition to Werth, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos also came up with big hits. Desmond led off the game with a homer to left that set the tone. Ramos hit a shot and doubled home Xavier Nady which closed the books on Lee and capped a three-run 6th inning.
The Nats will now go for the series win tomorrow with Stephen Strasburg on the hill. The game is scheduled for noon and the Mets will counter with their ace, Johan Santana.
For more on the two teams, head over to Washington Nationals blog Federal Baseballand New York Mets blog Amazin' Avenue. For more from around baseball, head over toBaseball Nation. To keep track of all rumors and happenings in the game, check out MLB Daily Dish.