Game 88: Mets at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats return home tonight to open a key series against the Mets.

After a somewhat disappointing four-game split in Miami, the Nationals return to D.C. for what has the makings of a very important homestand: Three games against the third-place Mets, followed by four games in three days against the second-place Braves.

"Oh, no doubt about it," Davey Johnson said after last night's 5-3 loss. "But I think we're in good shape. The whole lineup's swinging the bat good. Our pitchers are throwing the ball good. Bring 'em on."

The Nationals currently are six games up on the Mets (who have lost four straight) so there's actually an opportunity here to deal New York's surprise playoff hopes a series blow. Ross Detwiler gets the first crack tonight, facing fellow left-hander Jonathon Niese.

After flying home from Miami, I've got the night off. But Chase Hughes will have you covered with game updates and all the evening's other news and notes, so please check back...

NEW YORK METS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 184
Weather: Sunny, 96 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to CF

NATIONALS (51-36)
2B Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Michael Morse

1B Adam LaRoche
LF Tyler Moore
SS Danny Espinosa
C Jesus Flores
LHP Ross Detwiler

METS (46-43)
SS Ruben Tejada
2B Ronny Cedeno
3B David Wright
RF Scott Hairston
LF Jason Bay
1B Ike Davis
CF Andres Torres
C Mike Nickeas
LHP Jonathon Niese

UMPIRES
HP - Angel Hernandez
1B - Mark Carlson
2B - Chris Conroy
3B - Tim Timmons

7:15 p.m. -- It was announced as 99 degrees for the game's first pitch. Rosss Detwiler got out of the first inning on just nine pitches with no men allowed on base.

7:22 p.m. -- Harper got on with a one-out single, but was stranded after consecutive strikeouts by Zimmerman and Morse. Zimm went down swinging on a high fastball and Morse was retired looking on a high pitch he thought was out of the zone. 0-0 as we go to the second.

7:32 p.m. -- Scott Hairston led off the second with a single up the middle. Jason Bay then grounded into a double play to clear the bases. Ike Davis then got on with a single and was moved to third on a hit by Andres Torres, but a Nickeas grounder to Zimmerman ended the frame. Detwiler now up to 28 pitches through two, 22 of those strikes.

7:44 p.m. -- The Nats were retired in order to finish the second inning. Detwiler allowed a single to Ruben Tejada, but got out of the inning on a Cedeno double play. Detwiler is at 38 pitches through thee innings.

7:55 p.m. -- Still scoreless as we head to the bottom of the fourth. The Mets went three-and-out in the top of the inning on a Morse catch in deep right field, a Hairston strikeout, and a groundout by Jason Bay. Morse's catch was a beauty, on a ball hit to the wall by David Wright the Nats' right fielder slammed into the United Airlines sign when he leaped to make the grab.

8:08 p.m. -- Looks like a pitcher's duel here at Nationals Park. No score as we go to the bottom of the fifth inning. The Nats will look to improve on their one-hit performance so far. Detwiler got out of the fifth with another solid inning, now has 56 pitches on the night. Niese takes the mound with 53 through his first four.

8:11 p.m. -- And after I called it a pitchers' duel, Tyler Moore takes the first pitch of his at-bat over the right-center field fence. That is his fifth homer of the year. 1-0 Nationals

8:24 p.m. -- Another great frame by Detwiler in the 6th, he has allowed just four hits and zerio walks on 68 pitches (50 strikes). It could all unravel soon, but so far Detwiler has had little trouble setting down the Mets lineup. Top of the order up next for Washington.

8:41 p.m. -- Detwiler got out of the seventh after allowing a leadoff double to David Wright. Wright hit a ball deep to right-center field and it fell just inches away from Morse's glove as he tried to track it down.

8:51 p.m. -- Sean Burnett comes in to take over for Detwiler in the eighth, the Nats starter leaves with 0 ER, 5 H, 4 SO, 0 BB through 7.0. He threw 86 total pitches with 62 of those strikes. Solid night for Det.