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 A few minutes later and a few feet to his right, left fielder
Kevin Frandsen -- who produced the go-ahead RBI in the seventh
inning of the Nationals' 3-2 win over the New York Mets -- grimaced
as he stood in front of his locker.
It was that kind of night for the Nationals, whose 65th win was one
they'd like to forget as soon as possible. Washington (65-53) tied a
season high with three errors before surviving one of Soriano's
roughest ninth innings of the year.
"We're going to have games like this every once in a while,"
Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "The fact that we were able to
overcome it is key."
The Nationals fell behind 1-0 in the fourth, when Frandsen's drop of
a routine two-out fly ball to left by Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud
allowed first baseman Lucas Duda to score from first.
Frandsen redeemed himself in the seventh, hitting a sacrifice fly
two batters after right fielder Bryce Harper tied the game with his
own sac fly.
"You could dig yourself a hole, or you could be a man and step up
when the team needs it," Frandsen said. "It was an unfortunate play.
You just drop it. It's not being lazy or anything -- just dropped
it. That stuff happens.
"And fortunately I had a chance to come up with a big at-bat and got
the guy in."
The Mets loaded the bases in the top of the seventh thanks largely
to two more errors by the Nationals -- a misplay by first baseman
Adam LaRoche of a sharp grounder by Duda and an errant pickoff throw
into right field by catcher Wilson Ramos -- as well as right-hander
Jordan Zimmermann's plunking of center fielder Juan Lagares.
But right-hander Drew Storen preserved the lead by getting shortstop
Wilmer Flores to ground to third baseman Anthony Rendon, who forced
Duda at home. Storen then struck out pinch hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis.
"It was awesome," Zimmermann said. "We needed a ground ball and he
got the ground ball. And he ... got the next guy out."
Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera gave the Nationals a vital insurance
run with a solo homer in the eighth. In the ninth, Soriano --
pitching for the first time since Saturday and for just the fifth
time this month -- surrendered a leadoff homer to d'Arnaud and a
single to left fielder Matt den Dekker.
After Lagares popped out attempting to bunt, Flores singled to
center as den Dekker raced to third. Eric Young pinch-ran for Flores
and immediately stole second.
Pinch hitter Eric Campbell grounded to shortstop Ian Desmond, who
fired home to get a sliding den Dekker. The out was upheld during a
review called by crew chief Brian Gorman, who wanted to ensure there
was no violation of Rule 7.1.3. Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson
grounded back to Soriano on the next pitch to end the game.
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The three hits allowed tied a season high for Soriano. "Just a
little off," Williams said of Soriano. "Regular work is key for
guys. But sometimes, in a closer's role, you don't get it."
The Nationals, who have beaten the Mets 10 straight times at Citi
Field, maintained their five-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.
"They gave us every opportunity to get back in the game," Mets
manager Terry Collins said. "And in the ninth inning, we certainly
had a lot of opportunities. So yeah, this is a tough one because
they gave us a chance to beat them tonight."
Zimmermann (8-5) allowed an unearned run on five hits and no walks
while striking out four over 6 1/3 innings.
D'Arnaud, den Dekker and third baseman David Wright all had two hits
each for the Mets, who fell to 57-64. New York's lone error -- a
throwing miscue by Lagares -- led to one of the Nationals'
seventh-inning runs.
Colon (11-10) allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits and one walk
while striking out eight over seven innings.
NOTES: Nationals RF Jayson Werth (sprained right shoulder) received
a cortisone shot Wednesday and is expected to miss at least the next
two games while waiting for the shot to take effect. Werth, who last
played on Sunday, underwent an MRI on Tuesday that showed no
structural damage. ... Nationals CF Denard Span didn't start
Wednesday, one day after his streak of reaching base ended at 36
games. ... Mets RHP Matt Harvey (Tommy John surgery) threw 27
pitches off a bullpen mound Wednesday at the club's spring training
complex in Florida. ... Nationals manager Matt Williams started at
third base for the Cleveland Indians when Mets RHP Bartolo Colon
made his major league debut on April 4, 1997.
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reserved.]
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