Roark, Ramos lead Nationals past Mets
WASHINGTON -- Reliable starter Tanner Roark threw seven scoreless innings and Wilson Ramos crushed a solo homer with one out in the seventh as the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 1-0 Wednesday, taking two of three games in the series.
The second-place Mets (77-69) are now 10 games back of the first-place Nationals (87-59) with 16 games left. The magic number for Washington to clinch the National League East is now seven.
Ramos, showing signs of life after a long slump, hit the first pitch he saw from reliever Fernando Salas (0-1) into the seats in center for his 21st homer.
Roark (15-8) gave up three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks as he went seven scoreless innings for the ninth time this year, the most in the majors. He also won 15 games in 2014 in his first year as a starter.
Blake Treinen threw a perfect eighth for Washington and closer Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his 42nd save, and 12th with the Nationals. The losing pitcher Tuesday night in 10 innings, Melancon got T.J. Rivera on a grounder to end it after Rivera homered off him in the previous game.
Former Nationals minor-league pitcher Josh Smoker of the Mets took over in the sixth with two outs and gave an intentional walk to Daniel Murphy, whose single in the first gave him a hit in all 19 games against his former team this season.
With runners on first and second, Smoker struck out Bryce Harper looking. Harper stayed at home plate for nearly a minute and eventually threw his batting gloves up in the air before walking slowly to right field.
Trea Turner had two hits for the Nationals, who were 8-2 on the homestand.
Roark entered the game 0-2 with a 1.88 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Mets this year. He has been the starting pitcher in seven of the team's 12 shutouts this season. Roark went a season-high eight innings July 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Mets starter Robert Gsellman, who was making the fourth start of his career, gave up no runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. On Sept. 3, Gsellman allowed just one run in six innings against the Nationals in New York as the Mets won 3-1. He threw a career-high 96 pitches in that game and 77 on Wednesday.
NOTES: Washington manager Dusty Baker was not in the dugout after a death in the family, according to the team. Bench coach Chris Speier filled in for the manager. Baker is in his first year as the Nationals skipper and is slated to join the team in Atlanta for a series that begins Friday, according to the team. ... The Mets, who are 2-9 in one-run games since July 26. are off Thursday and begin a series at home on Friday with the Minnesota Twins as RHP Bartolo Colon (13-7, 3.27 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Jose Berrios (2-6, 9.27 ERA). ... Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8) has 205 strikeouts this year after recording 10 on Tuesday against the Nationals. At age 24, he is the fifth pitcher in team history to reach 200 strikeouts at age 24 or younger. ... Mets LHP Jerry Blevins, who got his first save since 2012 on Tuesday, was traded by Washington for OF Matt den Dekker on March 30, 2015. On Sept. 2, den Dekker was designated for assignment by the Nationals after he played in 55 games for Washington last year and 19 this season. Blevins fanned INF Daniel Murphy in the 10th inning for the final out and his first save since Sept. 4, 2012, also at Washington when he pitched for the Oakland A's. ... Washington RHP Max Scherzer (16-7, 2.78 ERA) will face Atlanta RHP John Gant (1-3, 4.40 ERA) on Friday.