Nationals notch 50th Win
Daniel Murphy #20 of the Washington Nationals doubles in two runs in the sixth inning during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on July 4, 2017 in Washington, DC.
(July 4, 2017 - Source: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images North America)
The Washington Nationals (50-34) notch their 50th win as they dominate the New York Mets (38-45) 11-4 to win their three-game series early.
Leadoff hitter SS Jose Reyes gave the Mets an early lead with a home run in the opening inning. It was his seventh long ball of the season.
In the bottom of the frame New York’s SP Seth Lugo needed just four pitches to retire the Nationals in order.
Washington went ahead in the third. C Jose Lobaton singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second base on a one-out single from CF Michael A. Taylor. With two outs RF Bryce Harper looped one into center field, driving in Jose Lobaton and moving Michael A. Taylor to third base. 2B Daniel Murphy followed with an RBI single to put the Nationals up 2-1.
New York’s C Rene Rivera tied the game immediately with a leadoff homer in the fourth. It was his sixth dinger of the year.
The Nationals took a commanding lead in the fifth. Four consecutive singles from SS Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and 1B Adam Lind, helped by a fielding error from RF Jay Bruce, produced two runs for the Nationals. LF Ryan Raburn then hit a double to drive in another two runs to put Washington up 6-2.
Seth Lugo (3-2) pitched 5 innings, giving up 10 hits, 2 walks and 6 earned runs while striking out 3. His ERA and WHIP rose to 4.75 and 1.52, respectively.
The Nationals put the game out of reach in the sixth. They loaded the bases with three consecutive one-out walks to Michael A. Taylor, Wilmer Difo and Bryce Harper. Daniel Murphy followed with a single to drive in two runs and move Bryce Harper to third base. Adam Lind grounded out next but Bryce Harper managed to come home to give Washington a 9-2 lead.
Washington’s SP Joe Ross (5-3) went 7 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 walks and 2 earned runs while fanning 6. He now has a 4.86 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP on the season.
The Nationals scored again in the eighth. Wilmer Difo singled with one out and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Bryce Harper followed with an infield single and drove in Wilmer Difo. Daniel Murphy doubled next and Bryce Harper came home to put Washington up 11-2.
The Mets, however, recorded the final runs of the game. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera singled with two outs in the ninth and Jay Bruce followed with his 21st home run of the year.
Ironically, the Mets outhomered the Nationals 3-0.
Daniel Murphy went 4-for-5 with 1 run and 5 RBI against his former team. He is batting .341 and has 55 runs, 14 HR and 60 RBI this season.
Twitter: @ThomasKaunzner
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