The Sports Xchange
Aug 27, 2017
WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark won his second start in a row, and the Washington Nationals took advantage of erratic New York pitching to defeat the Mets 5-4 Sunday night and earn a split of the teams' day-night doubleheader.
Washington reliever Joe Blanton came on to get the last out of the eighth, and closer Sean Doolittle pitched the ninth to get his 13th save with the Nationals since coming to the team in a trade with the Oakland A's in July.
Doolittle allowed an RBI single to Jose Reyes (three hits) before getting Juan Lagares for the final out on a liner to left.
In the first game, Amed Rosario broke a tie with a solo homer in the eighth as the Mets won 6-5. It was the fourth homer of the year for the rookie shortstop.
The Nationals tied the second game in the sixth inning as two Mets pitchers walked four batters in a row. Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Stevenson both walked with the bases loaded to bring in runs, with the walk by reliever Chasen Bradford to Stevenson giving Washington a 4-3 lead. Hansel Robles (7-5) walked three batters in a row before Bradford took over.
Adam Lind gave Washington an insurance run with a solo homer off Erik Goeddel in the eighth to make it 5-3. It was Lind's 11th homer of the year.
Washington led 2-0 in the nightcap before Lagares doubled home Reyes in the sixth. Later in the inning, The 100th pitch of the night for Roark was sent over the fence in center by Brandon Nimmo, who gave the Mets a 3-2 lead with his two-run shot.
Nimmo went deep for the first time this year and just the second time in his career (70 games).
Roark (11-8) allowed three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in six innings. He is now 7-2 in his career against the Mets as a starter and has not given up more than three runs in his last five outings.
Roark has walked just three batters in his past three outings combined. The Mets walked more than that in one inning Sunday night.
The first-place Nationals (78-51) improved to 11-5 this year against the Mets (57-73). Lagares and Nimmo had two hits apiece for New York in the second game, while Wilmer Difo and Rendon each had two hits for the Nationals.
NOTES: Washington RHP Erick Fedde was added as the 26th man for the doubleheader in order to start the first game. Nationals RHP A.J. Cole was sent to Triple-A Syracuse and OF Rafael Bautista was called back from Syracuse. ... The Mets activated RHP Seth Lugo from the disabled list and sent RHP Robert Gsellman to Triple-A Las Vegas. RHP Kevin McGowan was added as the 26th man for the doubleheader. ... Washington RHP Max Scherzer (12-5, 2.25 ERA) is slated to face Miami Marlins RHP Jose Urena (12-5, 3.68) on Monday at Nationals Park. ... Mets rookie RHP Chris Flexen (3-2, 5.79) will start Tuesday in Cincinnati against Reds RHP Sal Romano (3-5, 4.96).