Nationals take Opener in New York

Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 15, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

(June 15, 2017 - Source: Mike Stobe/Getty Images North America)

The Washington Nationals (40-26) take the opener of their four-game series with the New York Mets (30-35) 8-3.

RF Bryce Harper gave the Nationals an early lead in the first inning with a two-out home run. It was his 17th long ball of the season.

Washington scored another run in the fourth. C Matt Wieters doubled with one out and SP Gio Gonzalez drove him in with a two-out double to put the Nationals up 2-0.

Back-to-back doubles from LF Yoenis Cespedes and RF Jay Bruce put the Mets on the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame.

The Nationals responded immediately and extended their lead considerably in the fifth. LF Brian Goodwin doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on a one-out single from 1B Ryan Zimmerman. 2B Daniel Murphy followed with a triple and drove in two runs for Washington. Murphy himself came home on a single by 3B Anthony Rendon to put the Nationals up 5-1.

Anthony Rendon became the second out when Matt Wieters hit into fielder’s choice next. CF Michael A. Taylor then hit a home run to give Washington a 7-1 lead. It was his seventh homer of the year.

C Rene Rivera hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to five. It was his third long ball of the season.

New York’s SP Robert Gsellman (5-4) was relieved after 5 innings. He surrendered 11 hits, 2 walks and 7 earned runs while striking out 3. His ERA and WHIP increased to 5.50 and 1.54, respectively.

The pitching change, however, did not stop the Nationals from scoring. SS Trea Turner reached on a throwing error by 3B Wilmer Flores to lead off the sixth and came home on a double from Brian Goodwin to put the Nationals up 8-2.

Gio Gonzalez (6-1) went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs while fanning 5. He now has a 2.89 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP on the year.

In the bottom of the eighth Wilmer Flores hit his sixth homer of the season for the final run of the game.

Daniel Murphy went 3-for-5 with 1 run and 2 RBI. He is batting .344 and has 42 runs, 11 HR and 45 RBI this season.