Rivera's HR in 10th lifts Mets over Nationals
WASHINGTON -- Rookie T.J. Rivera hit a solo homer on an 0-2 pitch from closer Mark Melancon with one out in the top of the 10th as the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Tuesday.
It was the first homer in the career of Rivera, who had three hits and three RBIs. Jerry Blevins fanned Daniel Murphy for the final out of the game with Jayson Werth, who had singled, on base to get the save.
The second-place Mets (77-68) are nine games back of the first-place Nationals (86-59), and New York will aim for its seventh straight series win Wednesday.
The Nationals scored two runs in the ninth on RBI singles by Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos (two hits) to tie the game at 3-3. The Mets turned a double play to end the inning with two runners on base against closer Jeurys Familia (3-3), who picked up the win while Melancon (2-2) took the loss.
Mets starter Noah Syndergaard allowed one run and four hits in seven innings while James Loney and had two hits for the Mets. Former Nationals infielder Asdrubal Cabrera added two doubles and scored a run and backup catcher Rene Rivera added two hits from the No. 8 spot in the order for the Mets.
Murphy, the postseason star for the Mets last year, had a one-out double in the sixth to give him at least one hit in all 18 games against his former team this season. Murphy added an infield single to start the ninth.
Syndergaard, who fanned Bryce Harper and retired Rendon after the Murphy double, lowered his ERA to 2.43 as he had 10 strikeouts with one walk.
The tall right-hander has 206 strikeouts this season and he hit triple digits on the stadium radar gun several times. He has fanned at least 10 batters in five games this season but Tuesday was the first such outing since June 15.
Ramos' RBI single with one out in the first scored Harper to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead against Syndergaard. Ramos entered the game with only three hits in his previous 19 at-bats.
The Mets tied the game at 1-1 in the third as Rivera had an RBI single with two outs to score Cabrera, who led off with a double. It was only the fourth RBI in 43 trips to the plate this season for Rivera.
Curtis Granderson had an RBI triple in the fifth for the Mets and Rivera, who made his big league debut Aug. 10, came through again with a sacrifice fly off Cole to up the margin to 3-1.
The Washington starter allowed nine hits and three runs with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fifth and rookie Koda Glover came on to pitch in the sixth.
Cole was making his fifth major league start of the season and sixth of his career. He faced the Mets in New York on Sept. 2 and won 4-1 as he gave up only one run in six innings.
Syndergaard was 4-1 with a 1.38 ERA in his previous five starts.
He gave up seven hits and five runs in three innings in Washington in an 11-4 loss in June and then lost 4-1 on Sept. 2 in New York to the Nationals when he went seven innings and gave up three hits and two runs.
NOTES: Washington RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.85 ERA) pitches Wednesday against New York RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1, 3.92 ERA) in the series finale. ... Mets LHP Steven Matz (shoulder), who has not pitched since Aug. 14, was supposed to throw Tuesday in Florida but rain postponed that until Wednesday, according to manager Terry Collins. Matz and RHP Jacob deGrom (forearm inflammation), who has not pitched since Sept. 1, could figure into the spot in the starting rotation after RHP Rafael Montero gave up six runs in less than two innings Monday, Collins said. ... Washington manager Dusty Baker did not have any updated information on RHP Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 3.60), who left his start Wednesday after 42 pitches with a flexor mass strain. ... Collins said he spoke with former Mets infielder Wally Backman, who announced Monday he will not return as the Triple-A Las Vegas manager in the New York system. "I have always admired him. I hope the best for him," Collins said of Backman, who played on the 1986 World Series team. ... The Nationals renewed their player development contracts with Class A Auburn of the New York-Penn League and Class A Potomac of the Carolina League.