Conforto's HRs power Mets past Nationals
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael Conforto homered twice and drove in three runs as the New York Mets beat the first-place Washington Nationals, 5-3, on Saturday, winning for the second straight day after a six-game losing streak.
It was the first career two-homer game for Conforto (3-for-4), whose solo shot in the eighth off left-handed reliever Enny Romero gave the Mets a 4-2 lead.
Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, who had three hits and three RBIs, hit a solo homer in the eighth off Addison Reed to trim the lead to 4-3. Zimmerman has 226 career homers, second most in Montreal/Washington franchise history.
But New York's Jose Reyes (two hits) smashed a solo homer in the ninth off Shawn Kelley to make it 5-3.
Washington starter and loser Stephen Strasburg (2-1) gave up six hits and three runs with just two strikeouts and no walks in seven innings. He has gone seven innings in all five starts this year.
Zimmerman had a rare infield single to drive in a run in the fifth and trim the margin to 3-2. That led to the exit of Mets starter Zack Wheeler, who was replaced by Josh Edgin. Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth for the save.
Conforto, who has four home runs against Washington in the last nine days, gave his team a 3-1 lead with a two-run homer off Strasburg in the fifth.
The Mets tied the game at 1 in the fifth as Reyes scored while Travis d'Arnaud hit into a fielder's choice. It was the sixth RBI in two games for the New York catcher.
Red-hot Zimmerman had an RBI single to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead in the first. His hit drove in Michael A. Taylor, who had doubled with one out. Taylor, who had three hits, got the start after regular center fielder Adam Eaton went on the disabled list earlier in the day.
Wheeler gave up five hits and two runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings.
The winning pitcher was Hansel Robles (4-0), who recorded five outs without allowing a hit or run. T.J. Rivera also had two hits for the Mets.
The Nationals had a chance to add a run in the fourth. Jayson Werth stole second but was thrown out at third as he tried to advance. Werth and manager Dusty Baker claimed interference on Werth as he tried to leave second when the throw got away, but to no avail.
NOTES: The Nationals put CF Adam Eaton on the 10-day disabled list because of a left knee strain and called up OF Rafael Bautista from Triple-A Syracuse. Bautista entered this season as the No. 11 prospect in the Washington system, according to Baseball America. He was hitting .291 with Syracuse. ... Washington RHP Joe Ross (1-0, 6.17) will face Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 1.73) . ... Nationals 2B Daniel Murphy hit .288 with 62 home runs with the Mets before joining Washington prior to the 2016 season.