WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Taylor had a tying two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning, Danny Espinosa followed with an RBI double and the Washington Nationals rallied from three runs down to beat the New York Mets 4-3 on Wednesday.
In danger of having their lead over the Mets in the NL East cut to one game, Taylor drove in the Nationals’ first run in the fourth with a single off Noah Syndergaard to make it 3-1.
After a wild pitch from Bobby Parnell (1-1) put runners on second and third in the eighth, Taylor ripped a full-count fastball to left to tie it. Taylor then stole second base before Espinosa put Washington in position to take two of three from the Mets and open a three-game lead in the division.
Drew Storen struck out the side in the ninth for his 29th save. Matt Thornton (1-0) pitched the eighth for the win.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a two-run double and Kevin Plawecki an RBI single in the fourth to give the Mets a 3-0 lead against Jordan Zimmermann.
Zimmermann allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out six without a walk.
The Nationals got one back in the bottom half, when Ian Desmond, who reached base all four times, singled and scored on Taylor’s two-out hit.
Washington still stranded 10 runners from the second through the seventh innings.
Syndergaard gave up five hits and a run in five innings. He walked five and struck out four.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: LF Michael Cuddyer (left knee) didn’t start for a third straight day. “The only way it’s really going to get better is with long-term rest,” manager Terry Collins said. Cuddyer pinch hit in the ninth Tuesday. He walked and scored.
Nationals: 3B Yunel Escobar appeared to injure his left wrist swinging the bat in the second inning. He stayed in the game for one more pitch then took himself out. He was replaced by Dan Uggla. . RHP Stephen Strasburg, out since straining his left oblique on July 4, is set to throw batting practice Friday. . OF Jayson Werth, sidelined since May 15 with a broken left wrist, played nine innings in a rehab game Tuesday. INF Anthony Rendon, out since June 24 with a strained quadriceps, had five rehab at-bats Tuesday. . An MRI of David Carpenter’s injured right shoulder was negative, but the reliever had an anti-inflammatory injection that will keep him from throwing for two or three days. He went on the disabled list on July 17.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Bartolo Colon (9-8, 4.86 ERA) opens a four-game series Thursday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Colon is 0-3 with a 4.68 ERA in three starts in July.
Nationals: LHP Doug Fister (3-5, 4.30) starts the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh Thursday. Fister is 1-4 with a 4.29 ERA since returning from a forearm injury on June 18.
