Dickey has strong start in 3-0 loss

WASHINGTON – R.A. Dickey had another strong start for the New York Mets. Once again, he didn't end up with the outcome he wanted.

Dickey allowed six hits in six innings, including a three-run home run by Jayson Werth in the first, and the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 3-0 Saturday night.

It was the 17th time in 22 starts Dickey (5-9) has gone at least six innings. He has a 3.77 ERA this season but has just one win in his last six starts.

"It's frustrating, but it's more than that," Dickey said. "I expect more when I look at my name and see that stat line by it. I just do. So, it's painful to look down there and know you haven't contributed to more wins."

The Mets offense was shut down by Nationals starter Yunesky Maya, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to fill in for scheduled starter Jason Marquis, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the game.

Maya (1-1) allowed five hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings and earned his first career win in 10 starts. He entered the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before gametime and about 45 minutes before Washington announced the trade. The late notice didn't seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn't allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

New York manager Terry Collins said the late switch probably didn't change the outcome, it put the Mets at a disadvantage.

"In terms of preparation, it is," Collins said. "There's no question to me. We're waiting to find out who it is, but I know (Nationals manager) Davey (Johnson) well enough to know that if he could've done it any other way, he would've."

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Maya gave up consecutive one-out singles in the sixth to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning and get Maya out of the jam.

"He just moved his pitches," said Josh Thole, who had two hits. "We hit the ball pretty good off him. We put some good swings on the ball, just right at guys."

The Mets rallied in the ninth, but fell short against Nationals closer Drew Storen (26th save). Wright led off with a walk, and Thole and Jason Bay each singled to load the bases with two outs for pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who struck out looking on a slider to end the game.

"The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher's pitch," Harris said. "Good pitch, all I can really say. Good pitch.

"It could've been arguably low, but it could've been arguably there," Harris said. "So, I'm not complaining about the call the umpire made."

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against Dickey and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 pitch deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

"If I had three pitches back, we'd still be playing," Dickey said.

The Nationals snapped a six-game losing streak, their longest of the season.

NOTES: The Nationals traded utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to Milwaukee for OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston's roster spot. ... Wright had two singles, giving him a career-high seven consecutive multihit games. Wright has a hit in all nine games since he returned from the disabled list (lower back stress fracture) on July 22.