Washington, DC – Dillon Gee tossed 7 2/3 strong innings to help the New York Mets take the opener of a three-game set from the Washington Nationals, 3-2.
Ike Davis cranked his ninth home run for New York while Daniel Murphy scored twice and contributed two hits in the victory, including his third double in his last two games.
Gee (10-9) was tagged for two runs on six hits while striking out three. He has now gone at least six innings in 12 straight outings.
"I just want to give the team a chance to win every time I'm out there," Gee said. "I feel like if I do that then I'll be happy."
Jordan Zimmermann (15-8) failed to become the National League's first 16- game winner after getting reached for all three runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Wilson Ramos broke a scoreless tie in the home half of the third inning when he drove a hanging breaking ball out to left for a solo home run.
New York claimed the lead a half inning later on Davis' opposite field blast to left. Murphy, who singled to lead off the frame, scored in front of Davis to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
"It was a changeup that was up a little bit," Zimmermann said of Davis' homer.
The Mets added a crucial insurance run in the top of the eighth. Murphy doubled and scored with two outs when Andrew Brown hit a dribbler to Ryan Zimmerman at third base. Zimmerman's throw to Adam LaRoche at first landed short of the bag, allowing Brown to reach safely while Murphy crossed home plate.
Steve Lombardozzi, pinch-hitting with two away in the eighth, launched the second pitch he saw from Gee over the fence in right to bring the Nats within a run at 3-2. Gee then surrendered singles to Denard Span and Zimmerman before giving way to lefty Scott Rice, who retired Bryce Harper to hold the Mets' lead.
Forty-year-old LaTroy Hawkins came on in the ninth and retired the side in order for his sixth save of the season.
Game Notes
Prior to the game, Vic Black became the final player sent to New York in a deal that saw the Mets ship John Buck and Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Mets had previously received Dilson Herrera in the deal ... Travis d'Arnaud had two hits for the first time in his major league career ... New York hit 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position ... The loss snaps Washington's three-game winning streak ... Span extended his hitting streak to 13 games, while Harper's 11-game streak came to an end.
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