Mon May 12 23:14:34 2008

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Perez, Nats steamroll over Mets

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Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - Odalis Perez did it all for Washington, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in, and earning the victory on the mound, as the Nationals downed the New York Mets, 10-4, in the opener of a four-game set at Shea Stadium.

Perez (1-3), who had collected only two hits in 13 at-bats this year, more than doubled his season output at the dish. Meanwhile, atop the hill, the veteran southpaw hurled 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on 11 hits and two walks while fanning five, good enough for his first win in five outings. Perez avenged an April 15 loss to the Mets in which he allowed six hits and two earned runs in six innings, and improved to 5-6 lifetime against New York.

Jesus Flores doubled, crossed the plate twice and drove in two runs for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game skid. Nick Johnson scored three runs and knocked one in, and Lastings Milledge doubled, scored and had two RBI. Rob Mackowiak added two runs and an RBI for Washington, which had dropped five of six. Felipe Lopez finished with a pair of hits and one run batted in.

Damion Easley went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Mets, who had triumphed in three of their last four overall, and four of their five matchups with the Nats this season. David Wright belted a solo homer and scored twice, and Carlos Beltran had two hits and knocked in a run.

Nelson Figueroa (2-3) lasted five innings and was roughed up for six runs -- four earned -- on five hits and five walks while striking out four, falling to 1-2 in six career starts against Washington. The journeyman righthander, who had been out of the majors since 2004, took a no-decision against the Nats on April 17, allowing three hits and two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 Mets win.

Jorge Sosa surrendered four runs on four hits and two walks in his lone inning of relief.

The Nationals broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning. Mackowiak drew a two-out walk that moved Johnson -- who had started the stanza with a single -- to second. Flores then ripped a double to left that brought around both runners, and Perez helped himself with a base hit to right that stretched the Washington lead to 6-3.

The Nats continued their offensive onslaught in the sixth, as Ryan Zimmerman led off with a double and Johnson walked. Milledge then blasted a double deep into left, where Moises Alou mistimed his jump and the ball bounced off the wall and away from him, and both Zimmerman and Johnson crossed the plate to extend the advantage to 8-3.

Washington added two more runs before New York escaped the sixth. Perez continued to swing a hot bat, knocking in Milledge with a single to center, and Lopez deposited a base hit into left that scored Flores and gave the Nationals a comfortable 10-3 cushion.

Wright trimmed the deficit to 10-4 when he clobbered a low-inside fastball over the left field fence in the seventh.

New York loaded the bases in the eighth, but were unable to capitalize, as Wright grounded out to third to cease the threat. Washington reliever Saul Rivera cruised through the ninth.

The Mets jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first frame. Wright worked a two-out walk and proceeded to swipe second base. On the next pitch, Beltran smacked a base hit past a fully-extended Zimmerman and into left field to open the night's scoring.

Washington came right back to deadlock the matchup in the second. After Johnson reached base on Carlos Delgado's throwing error and Milledge walked, Austin Kearns grounded out to second and the runners moved up to second and third. Mackowiak then lifted a sacrifice fly deep into center, allowing Johnson to trot home.

New York restored its slim advantage in the bottom of the inning, when Easley led off with his first homer since August of last season, crushing the ball over the wall in center field despite strong winds blowing in toward the plate.

The Nationals knotted the affair at 2-2 in the third after Figueroa plunked Zimmerman to load the bases and then walked Johnson, scoring Perez. Figueroa worked out of the jam without allowing any further damage, fanning Milledge and getting Kearns to fly out to center.

The teams continued to trade runs, with the Mets pushing ahead in the bottom of the third and the Nats responding to even the tilt in the fourth. Easley singled home Alou, who had doubled for New York, while Mackowiak crossed the plate for Washington when Figueroa snagged a Lopez grounder and threw the ball away, wide left of Flores.

Game Notes

Tuesday will pit Washington's John Lannan (3-3) against New York's John Maine (4-2)...Perez made his 200th career start (67-73)...Attendance was 45,321.