Zimmermann Tosses 6 Scoreless As Nats Top Mets 4-3
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jordan Zimmermann pitched six shutout innings, Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer and the Washington Nationals hung on to beat the New York Mets 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Steve Lombardozzi added a two-run double as Washington handed a sixth straight loss to the Mets, who held a team meeting before the game.
Zimmermann (7-6) won his fourth straight, allowing just four hits in six innings, striking out four and walking none.
In the seventh, Tom Gorzelanny allowed a one-out double to Lucas Duda, who scored on Andres Torres' single.
Sean Burnett worked a scoreless eighth, but Tyler Clippard, who blew his third save Tuesday, allowed two home runs in the ninth to David Wright and Jason Bay. Clippard then struck out Jordany Valdespin for his 15th save in 18 chances.
In the sixth, LaRoche hit a 1-2 pitch from Chris Young (2-4) into the left-center field stands for his 16th home run. It was his third home run in 11 at-bats against Young. Eight of LaRoche's 16 homers have been two-run shots.
Lombardozzi's two-out double in the seventh against Miguel Batista made it 4-1.
Wright led off the ninth with his 12th home run of the year, and after Clippard struck out Ike Davis and Duda, Bay hit his fifth home run -- striking the foul pole in left field. Both were on the first pitch.
Bryce Harper had an eventful night with two singles and also caught a long fly ball hit by Duda in left-center in the second after an extended run. In the fourth, Harper singled, and when Ryan Zimmerman flied to center, he ran and was about 30 feet past second when he fell down and was easily doubled off first.
Wright had three hits. He's now reached base in 81 of New York's 87 games.
NOTES: Washington RHP Drew Storen will probably be activated Thursday, manager Davey Johnson said. Storen has yet to pitch this season due to elbow surgery. --- Nationals C Jhonatan Solano is probably headed to the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain. He's likely to be replaced by Sandy Leon, who's at Double-A Harrisburg. --- Washington OF Jayson Werth, who's on the DL with a broken wrist, took batting practice on Wednesday and launched seven straight home runs. Johnson said he'll be sent out on a rehab assignment on Thursday. --- Duda returned to the lineup after missing three games with a left hamstring injury. --- New York RHP Jon Rauch had his knees drained on Tuesday, but pitched the eighth. --- Mets RHP R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.66) will pitch against Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (12-4, 3.93) on Thursday afternoon.
