Mets 5, Nationals 1
Mets 5, Nationals 1: Daniel Murphy had three hits and scored twice and Dillon Gee pitched six solid innings as host New York evened the series at one game apiece.
Gee (6-7) gave up one run on six hits while beating the Nationals for the third time in as many meetings this season. He struck out four and walked three while working out of several jams and getting a pair of double-play balls.
Nationals right-hander Taylor Jordan (0-1) took the loss in his major-league debut, allowing three runs - one earned - on five hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Washington's defense let down Jordan as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman's error allowed leadoff man Marlon Byrd to reach and eventually score on John Buck's RBI single in the fourth inning. Zimmerman and shortstop Ian Desmond made errors on the same play in the fifth to spark a two-run rally.
Omar Quintanilla had two hits and Eric Young Jr., Byrd and Kirk Nieuwenhuis added RBIs for the Mets, who have won three of four. Kurt Suzuki went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Nationals (40-40), who fell back to .500 with their fourth loss in 10 games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Nationals tied a season high with three errors, giving them 59 for the season - second in the National League to the Los Angeles Dodgers. … Gee has an 0.96 ERA in three starts against Washington this season and a 5.55 ERA against all other opponents. He is 6-1 all-time against the Nationals. … Mets LHP Jon Niese will have a follow-up MRI on his partially-torn rotator cuff on Thursday. Niese injured the shoulder in a June 20 start against Atlanta.