WASHINGTON (AP) — Ryan Zimmerman hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday night.
Pinch-hitter Willie Harris started the decisive rally with one out in the ninth by walking on a full-count pitch from Pedro Feliciano (2-4). Nyjer Morgan pushed a perfect drag bunt between first and the pitcher's mound to put runners at first and second.
Cristian Guzman singled to left but Jesus Feliciano cut off the sharply hit ball and forced Harris to stop at third, loading the bases. Ryota Igarashi relieved Feliciano.
The Mets brought Jesus Feliciano in as a fifth infielder, stationing him to the shortstop side of second base in a drawn-in infield, and Zimmerman hit a fly to right field for the game-winner.
Matt Capps (1-3) worked the ninth.
Washington, which had lost seven of eight, avoided dropping a season-worst 12 games under .500. The Mets have lost three of four games.
The Mets took a 1-0 lead on Ike Davis' RBI single in the first but could not give Johan Santana more support. After allowing at least four runs in each of his last four starts, Santana held the Nationals scoreless until the seventh — his last inning.
Ian Desmond led off the inning with a single, advanced on a sacrifice and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored with two outs when Morgan hit a 2-2 fastball between shortstop and third base to tie it 1-all.
Santana allowed a run on six hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
Desmond led off the bottom of the fifth by hitting a ball deep to left-center that glanced off the padding of the section of seats to the right of the bullpen. The play was initially ruled in play by second base umpire Scott Barry and Desmond chugged into second.
The crew huddled next to the pitcher's mound, then all but Barry went down the tunnel to the umpires' dressing room for a video review. After a minute, they returned to the field upholding Barry's original call.
Washington starter Livan Hernandez yielded one run and seven hits over seven innings, walking none and striking out a season-high seven.
NOTES: Mets SS Jose Reyes (lower back tightness) and CF Angel Pagan (right side muscle spasms) were both out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Pagan pinch ran in the sixth inning, remaining in the game to play defense. Manager Jerry Manuel hopes to have Reyes back by Saturday. ... Former Washington OF Elijah Dukes, cut in spring training, signed with the independent Atlantic League's Newark (N.J.) Bears on Thursday.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
