Mets 2, Nationals 1 (12 innings)
NEW YORK -- Second baseman Wilmer Flores homered leading off the bottom of the 12th inning Friday night to lift the New York Mets to a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
The homer caps a whirlwind week for Flores, who wept on the field Wednesday night thinking he was about to be traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. But the trade fell through and Flores ended up accounting for both Mets runs -- he had an RBI single in the fourth inning -- for the Mets on the night they acquired outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers.
The Mets (53-50) snapped a two-game losing streak and moved within two games of the Nationals (54-47) in the National League East in the opener of a three-game series.
Right-hander Carlos Torres (4-4) struck out the side in the 12th. Right-hander Felipe Rivero (1-1) took the loss.
Mets right-hander Matt Harvey retired the first 16 batters he faced but didn't factor into the decision after the Nationals tied the game with a two-out rally in the top of the eighth.
After pinch-hitter Clint Robinson was grazed by a pitch, second baseman Anthony Rendon was credited with a single when third baseman Juan Uribe tried but failed to force pinch-runner Danny Espinosa at second. Third baseman Yunel Escobar followed with a single up the middle to score Espinosa.
Right-hander Tyler Clippard, a former member of the Nationals, escaped the jam by striking out right fielder Jayson Werth looking to end a 13-pitch battle.
Harvey allowed the one run on five hits and no walks while striking out nine. He was the second Mets pitcher this week to open with at least five perfect innings. Right-hander Noah Syndergaard set down the first 18 San Diego Padres he faced on Tuesday night.
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed one run on four hits and four walks while striking out six over 4 2/3 innings. Gonzalez threw 105 pitches in his second-shortest start of the season.
NOTES: The Mets will have OF Yoenis Cespedes in uniform for Saturday's game. Cespedes was in Baltimore with the Detroit Tigers but couldn't get to Queens in time to play Friday because the trade wasn't completed until just before the 4 p.m. deadline. ... Cespedes will continue to wear no. 52 for the Mets. RHP Carlos Torres, who wore no. 52, will switch to no. 72. ... Following Thursday's game, the Mets made room for C Travis d'Arnaud by optioning C Anthony Recker to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (left oblique strain), is expected to make his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Monday. ... Nationals RHP David Carpenter (right shoulder inflammation) is getting a second opinion.