Santana, Mets beat Nationals

[April 24, 2008]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Johan Santana hit two doubles and pitched seven solid innings, leading the New York Mets to a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

Santana (3-2) allowed seven hits, none after the fourth inning, struck out four and walked one. As a batter, he had the second two-hit game of his career.

The Mets improved to 4-0 against the Nationals this season.

New York broke open a 2-all tie in the sixth with only one hit -- Carlos Beltran's leadoff single -- leaving the infield. After Beltran's hit, Ray King relieved Tim Redding (3-2) and Ryan Church hit a weak grounder to third. Washington's Ryan Zimmerman charged, but his running throw to first was wide. Beltran scored and Church, credited with a single, wound up on third on Zimmerman's throwing error.

Church scored two batters later on an infield single by Angel Pagan. Pagan then stole second and third on consecutive pitches and scored on a groundout by Brian Schneider to give the Mets a 5-2 lead.

Redding gave up four hits and three runs in five-plus innings. He also drove in both Washington runs with a two-out double in the fourth inning. It was the last hit of the game for the Nationals.

Santana and the bullpen shut the Nationals down after Redding's double. Santana retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Duaner Sanchez pitched a perfect eighth, and Billy Wagner allowed a walk in the ninth.

Church had a two-run single in the ninth.

In the fourth, Redding came up with two outs and runners on first and third. His double bounced off the wall in left-center field, scoring Wily Mo Pena and Wil Nieves and giving Washington a 2-1 lead.

The Mets tied it in the fifth inning, helped by a pair of close plays at first base.

Schneider and Santana each walked with one out. Jose Reyes then grounded to short but beat the throw to first, avoiding a double play. After Reyes stole second with two outs, Luis Castillo also grounded to short and beat Cristian Guzman's throw to first. Castillo's infield single scored Schneider and evened the score 2-all.

Beltran scored the game's first run in the second inning. He led off with a double and advanced on two groundouts.

[Associated Press; By ARNIE STAPLETON]

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