Mets target fifth straight win in middle game with Nats
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Texas-born right-hander Dillon Gee makes the first start of his second full-time season with the New York Mets tonight when they host the Washington Nationals in the second of three games at Citi Field.
The Mets improved to 4-0 on the season in the series opener on Monday, when Daniel Murphy's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning yielded a 4-3 victory.
It's the first time New York has won its initial four games since 2007.
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Jon Rauch (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win. Starter Mike Pelfrey gave up three runs on 10 hits and a walk while tying his career-high with eight strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings.
Washington's Henry Rodriguez (0-1) gave up the deciding run after a costly throwing error to suffer the loss.
Gee, who'll turn 26 later this month, was 2-2 in five starts with the Mets in 2010, but became a full-time starter last season and won 13 of 19 decisions across 30 appearances with a 4.43 earned run average in 160 2/3 innings.
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Gee allowed 150 hits and struck out 114 batters for the Mets while allowing 79 earned runs and walking 71.
The former 21st-round pick in 2007 has made five career starts against Washington, winning all three decisions with a 3.09 ERA in 32 innings.
The Nationals counter with 26-year-old lefty Ross Detwiler, who'll face the Mets for the sixth time and make his fourth start against them. He is 1-1 with a hold and a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings against them while allowing 19 hits and striking out nine.
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Detwiler, the sixth overall pick in the 2007 draft, made one appearance with Washington in 2007, was 1-6 in 15 games in 2009, won once in four decisions in 2010 and went 4-5 in 15 games - 10 appearances - in 2011.
In 172 1/3 career innings, Detwiler has allowed 184 hits, struck out 102 batters and walked 67.
Washington was 10-8 against the Mets last season.