WASHINGTON (AP) — David Wright hit a three-run double and had four RBIs, Raul Valdes filled in admirably for injured starter John Maine for five innings and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 10-7 on Thursday night.
In his first at-bat since sitting out for first time this season Wednesday night, Wright put the Mets ahead 3-0 with a double. But in the bottom half, Maine threw just five pitches — a walk to Nyjer Morgan — before Mets manager Jerry Manuel removed him.
Maine, who has had problems with his right shoulder, left the game "for precautionary reasons," the Mets said. He will see a doctor Friday.
Valdes (2-1) pitched five innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. He struck out six and walked one.
Wright added a sacrifice fly during a five-run fifth inning for the Mets, who had lost nine of 11. New York was 2-6 on their road trip and return home to play the crosstown rival Yankees for three games starting Friday night.
Wright went 1 for 4 without a strike out, ending a streak where he struck out in a career-high 15 straight games.
Luis Atilano (3-1) allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings for Washington.
Valdes, a 32-year-old rookie left-hander signed this spring from the Mexican League, had never pitched four innings. Thursday he went five.
Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen had noticed during Maine's pregame bullpen that his velocity was down, and had Valdes warming up during Morgan's at-bat.
All three of Valdes' decisions have come against the Nationals — a win on May 11 and a loss Wednesday.
Valdes allowed a run in the second when Roger Bernadina's fielder's choice scored Adam Dunn and two runs in the sixth on Willie Harris' pinch-hit single.
By then, the Mets were ahead 10-3.
New York scored five runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, Jeff Francoeur's two-run single, an infield RBI single by Jose Reyes and a sacrifice fly by Alex Cora. Rod Barajas' 10th home run of the year, a two-run shot in the sixth, gave the Mets 10 runs — equaling their high for the year.
Washington scored three runs in the eighth off Jenrry Mejia and one in the ninth off Francisco Rodriguez.
NOTES: Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner was struck by a ball while standing in right field during batting practice. Lerner was in uniform and shagging balls. According to The Washington Post, Lerner was struck on the bridge of his nose and received stitches. A team spokesman declined comment. ... This was the second time in Mets history that a starting pitcher was removed from a game after facing just one batter. It last happened on Apr. 26, 1981, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Valdes' five-inning relief stint was the longest by a New York reliever since Darren Oliver worked five innings against Florida on July 7, 2006. ... Mets rookie 1B Ike Davis equaled career highs with three hits and three runs scored.
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