Nats even series with Mets, Strasburg today
The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets last night 6-2 to even the three game series at one apiece.
The Nats were led on the mound by Ross Detwiler, who surprisingly beat out John Lannan for the fifth slot in the Nationals starting rotation. The performance Detwiler provided the Nats last night was a clear indication of why Detwiler landed in the rotation. Going back to the end of lats season, Dewteiler was coming into his own, pitching with power and effectiveness. Last night was no different in his season opening start. Detwiler tossed 5 shutout innings allowing just 2 hits while striking out 6 batters. At one point, Detwiler sat down 15 Mets in a row.
Craig Stammen and Tyler Clippard each yielded a run out of the Nats bullpen. Brad Lidge, in the absence of Drew Storen, sat down the Mets to preserve the in. He yielded a hit and struck out two batter in the 9th inning.
Offensively, the Nats were led by a surging Jayson Werth. Werth hammered out 4 hist in 5 at bats and driving in 2 runs, including his first double of the season. After starting the season out 0-11, Werth has 5 hits in his last 9 plate appearances. He raised his season batting average to .263.
Ian Desmond started the Nationals off with a solo, leadoff home run in the first inning. It was Desmond's first of the season. The Nationals then put together a 3 run, 6th inning, ignited by a single by Werth that scored Rayn Zimmerman from second, after Zimmerman opened the inning with a double. Roger Bernadina grounded to second, but was safe on a fielding error that scored an alert Werth. Werth should be credited with some outstanding base running on the play. Wilson Ramos added the third run, doubling in Bernadina.
Werth and Zimmerman each drove in runs after the sixth inning to top off the Nationals 6 runs on 13 hits.
The win improved the Nationals to 3-2 on the season and dropped the Mets to 4-1, pulling the Nats to within 1 game of first place in the NL East. The Nats and Mets will decide the series at 1:10PM today with Nats' ace Stephen Strasburg facing off against Mets' ace Johan Santana. Strasburg allowed 2 runs over 5 innings and struck out 5 batter in his season opening win over the Cubs.
