Seven-run inning, Strasburg lift Nationals
NEW YORK -- Anthony Rendon, Wilson Ramos and Ben Revere each had two-run hits during a seven-run third inning Thursday as the Washington Nationals routed the New York Mets 9-1 at Citi Field.
Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 batters over six innings to remain unbeaten (7-0) this season for the Nationals (25-16), who won the final two games of the three-game series to remain in first place in the National League East. Washington is one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The third-place Mets (22-18) have lost six of seven and were outscored 37-13 during that span. New York, which led the Nationals by a half-game as recently as May 11, is 2 1/2 games behind.
Rendon finished with three hits while Revere, Daniel Murphy and Danny Espinosa had two hits apiece. Murphy gave the Nationals a lead they'd never relinquish by hitting a two-run homer in the first inning. The former Mets second baseman finished his first series against his old club 4-for-11 with four RBIs.
Ryan Zimmerman also had an RBI in the third inning for the Nationals.
Strasburg allowed one run on six hits and walked one while striking out 10. It was his fourth double-digit strikeout game of the season and the 25th of his career. The Nationals have won his last 13 starts dating back to last season.
Struggling right-hander Matt Harvey absorbed all the damage for the Mets as a highly anticipated matchup of hard-throwing Tommy John survivors fizzled. Harvey gave up a career-high nine runs (six earned) over a career-low 2 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and two walks as his ERA rose to 5.77.
Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single in the second for the Mets while Neil Walker had two hits.
The Nationals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jayson Werth drew a one-out walk, and Murphy blasted a two-run homer to center.
The Mets, whose three runs in the first two games of the series all came via solo homers, pieced together a run in the second. Yoenis Cespedes singled, went second on a single to right by Walker and scored on Cabrera's single to center.
The Nationals blew the game open during a third inning in which they sent 11 batters to the plate. With the bases loaded and one out, Zimmerman hit a potential double-play ball to shortstop, but Cabrera bobbled it as Revere scored. Rendon followed with a two-run double off the glove of a leaping Michael Conforto in left field to make the score 5-1.
Ramos followed with a two-run single, after which Strasburg grounded out. Revere then tripled past a diving Cespedes to increase the Nationals' lead to 9-1 and finally chase Harvey, who was walking off the mound before manager Terry Collins even took the ball from him.
NOTES: Mets 1B Lucas Duda returned to the lineup after missing two games with a stiff back. ... Former Mets vice president of player development and amateur scouting Paul DePodesta received his National League championship ring Wednesday night. DePodesta is currently the chief strategy officer of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. ... The 11 walks drawn by the Nationals in Wednesday night's 7-1 win tied the franchise's Washington-era (2005-present) set previously on Aug. 9, 2006. ... Former big league slugger Pedro Guerrero visited with Nationals manager Dusty Baker before the game. Guerrero and Baker were teammates on the 1981 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.