 pitched six crisp innings in his second straight win. The veteran right-hander allowed one run and two hits, struck out six and walked two.Jose Reyes drove in Michael Conforto with a fielder's choice in the second, tying it at 1, but Washington grabbed control in the seventh.Juan Soto and Anthony Rendon opened the inning with walks against Anthony Swarzak (0-2). Tim Peterson then came in and surrendered singles to Adams and Murphy, who came off the bench to hit for Michael A. Taylor.Jerry Blevins replaced Peterson with two out and runners on second and third. But he hit Wilmer Difo and Adam Eaton before Turner's single gave Washington a 6-1 lead.New York wasted a solid start by Corey Oswalt, who allowed two hits in five innings. The Mets got off to fast start this year, but hit the break last in the division with a 39-55 record, percentage point behind fourth-place Miami.WAITINGA steady drizzle delayed the start by 47 minutes.TRAINER'S ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation) pitched 5 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Class A Potomac. He allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one. Strasburg has been on the disabled list since June 10.Mets: Yoenis Cespedes is scheduled to play five simulated innings in left field at the team's facility in Florida on Monday. Mets manager Mickey Callaway said the 32-year-old outfielder, who has been sidelined by a right hip flexor and strained quadriceps, could return as the designated hitter next weekend against the Yankees If he is able to play on consecutive days.MAKING MOVESThe Nationals recalled right-hander Trevor Gott from Triple-A Syracuse. Right-hander Austin Voth, who took the loss in his big league debut Saturday, was sent back to Syracuse.)
Mets, Nationals seek positive end to underwhelming first half 3h ago• 3 min read NEW YORK -- The New York Mets and Washington Nationals have accounted for the last five playoff berths earned by teams from the National League East.So suffice to say neither squad expected to be digging deep for a positive note to conclude the first half of the season, which they will be doing Sunday in the finale of a four-game series at Citi Field.Mets rookie Corey Oswalt (0-2, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Nationals veteran Jeremy Hellickson (3-1, 3.47 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.The Mets earned their second straight win Saturday when Michael Conforto hit a three-run homer and Zack Wheeler pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in more than four years in a 7-4 victory.The Mets will end a pair of ignoble streaks if they can win a third straight game on Sunday. New York hasn't won a series since a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks from May 18-20 and hasn't won three straight home games since a victory over the Miami Marlins on May 21 capped a four-game streak.Win or lose on Sunday, the All-Star break will provide a much-needed respite for the Mets (39-54), who hoped to return to the playoffs this year after losing 92 games last season. They reached the World Series in 2015 and made the NL wild card game in 2016 but fell out of contention by going 15-35 since May 22."I think everybody's trying to finish this half strong," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said following Saturday's game. "Take a few days off, reset and come back and try to be the team that we need to be, because we haven't been that." The same can be said for the Nationals (47-48), who have won the last two NL East titles yet need a win on Sunday to reach the All-Star Break at .500. Since falling out of first place June 12, Washington has gone 10-20, the second-worst record in the NL, to fall 6 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.On Saturday, the Nationals were forced to take solace in mounting a mini-comeback. Washington trailed 7-0 before closing within 7-4 on Matt Adams' two-run homer with two outs in the eighth, but Mets relievers Anthony Swarzak and Jeurys Familia retired the final four batters in order."Scored a bunch of runs late, Matt hits the home run," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We fell short, but the guys didn't quit. They played hard, scored some runs late and hopefully (Sunday) we score runs early and often and we come back (Sunday) and win." Bryce Harper went 1-for-4 and is hitting .214. He is 3-for-13 in the series but also did not run out a grounder in Friday's 4-2 loss, something Martinez discussed with the slugger before Saturday's game."I've spoken to Bryce, and that's a conversation that will stay between Bryce and I," Martinez said.Oswalt took the loss despite pitching impressively in his third big league start Tuesday night, when he allowed three runs on just one hit -- a three-run double by opposing pitcher Aaron Nola -- over a career-high six innings as the Mets fell to the Phillies 3-1.Hellickson earned the win Tuesday, when he allowed two hits over five scoreless innings as the Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1. It was the 11th time in 12 starts this season Hellickson has lasted fewer than six innings.Oswalt has never faced the Nationals.Hellickson is 2-4 with a 7.40 ERA in nine career starts against the Mets. It is his highest ERA against any team he's faced more than five times.
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