SB Nation New York - Mets Hang On, Defeat Nationals, 5-3https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2010-07-02T22:22:43-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13133422010-07-02T22:22:43-04:002010-07-02T22:22:43-04:00Niese, Cora Key Victory
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<p>Washington, DC (Sports Network) – Alex Cora drove in three runs to back Jon Niese’s solid pitching performance, as the New York Mets held off the Washington Nationals, 5-3, in the second test of a four-game set at Nationals Park.</p>
<p>Niese (6-2) gave up one run on six hits in seven innings. The 23-year-old left-hander also struck out a career-high eight batters en route to winning his fifth straight decision. Niese also had an <span class="caps">RBI</span>.</p>
<p>Ike Davis knocked in a run for the Mets, who had lost three of four coming in. David Wright went 3-for-5 with a run scored for the victors.</p>
<p>Josh Willingham hit a solo homer for the Nationals, who have dropped seven of their past nine games. Roger Bernadina and Ian Desmond had an <span class="caps">RBI</span> apiece.</p>
<p>Luis Atilano (6-5) got rocked in 3 2/3 frames, allowing five runs on four hits. He also fanned four batters and walked two in the loss.</p>
<p>The Mets drew first blood in the first inning. Ruben Tejada was hit by a pitch and Wright singled in front of Davis’ <span class="caps">RBI</span> groundout.</p>
<p>New York added four runs in the fourth to build a 5-0 lead. Wright doubled, Davis walked, and Jason Bay walked to load the bases with nobody out. Following two outs, Cora cleared the bases with a triple. Niese helped his own cause with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> double.</p>
<p>Washington didn’t get a runner past first base until the fifth. Desmond hit a one-out double, but Niese retired the next two batters.</p>
<p>Willingham’s blast in the seventh made it a 5-1 game.</p>
<p>The Nationals made things interesting in the ninth. Pedro Feliciano struck out Adam Dunn before being replaced by Elmer Dessens. Ryan Zimmerman walked and advanced to third two batters later on Ivan Rodriguez’s double. Francisco Rodriguez then took over on the mound. Pinch-hitter Bernadina and Desmond hit back-to-back <span class="caps">RBI</span> singles to make it a 5-3 contest. However, Bernadina was caught leaning too far off second base. With Willie Harris batting, Francisco Rodriguez tossed to second for the final out.</p>
<p>Washington has still won seven of its last nine at home versus the Mets, who trail the season series, 6-4…New York was without shortstop Jose Reyes (lower back)…Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 19th save of the season…Mets outfielder Bay played in his 1,000th career game. He is the 13th Canadian-born player to appear in as many games.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2010/7/2/1550413/niese-cora-key-victoryEd Valentine2010-07-02T21:50:42-04:002010-07-02T21:50:42-04:00Mets Sign Brian Bruney
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<p>Former New York Yankee relief pitcher <strong>Brian Bruney</strong> has <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100702&content_id=11840602&notebook_id=11845102&vkey=notebook_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym&partnerId=rss_nym" target="new">signed a minor-league deal</a> with the Mets.</p>
<p>Bruney was released recently by the Washington Nationals after posting an unsightly 7.64 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 19 games.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2010/7/2/1550378/mets-sign-brian-bruneyEd Valentine2010-07-02T13:04:31-04:002010-07-02T13:04:31-04:00Mets Try To Deal With Nationals Again Tonight
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<p>(Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/WAS">Washington Nationals</a> continued to be a thorn in the side of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/NYM">New York Mets</a> in the opener of this set on Thursday. Tonight, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33407/Jon_Niese">Jon Niese</a> tries to get the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/NYM">Mets</a> back on track and win his fifth straight decision in the second test of the four-game set from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/WAS">Nationals</a> Park.</p>
<p>Niese has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets, going 5-2 with a 3.84 earned run average. The 23-year-old left-hander picked up a win on Sunday against Minnesota, holding the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/MIN">Twins</a> to four hits over six scoreless innings.</p>
<p>"It makes it easy with Rod (Barajas) and Henry (Blanco) behind the plate. They call great games," Niese said about his catchers after the win. "Really, all I have to do is follow them and execute my pitches and it usually turns out to be a good game."</p>
<p>Since returning form the disabled list on June 5, Niese is 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA in five starts.</p>
<p>Niese, though, did not get a decision against the Nats the only other time he faced them, despite a poor performance that saw him surrender six runs in 4 1/3 innings of his team's 8-6 win.</p>
<p>Washington won in its last at-bat on Thursday, as <span>Ryan Zimmerman</span>'s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning scored <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/955/Willie_Harris">Willie Harris</a> and lifted the Nationals to a 2-1 victory. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/17626/Nyjer_Morgan">Nyjer Morgan</a> finished with two hits and an RBI, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/33859/Ian_Desmond">Ian Desmond</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/513/Cristian_Guzman">Cristian Guzman</a> also had a pair of hits apiece for Washington, which has won six of the nine games against the Mets this season.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/823/Pedro_Feliciano">Pedro Feliciano</a> (2-4) came in to keep the game tied in the home ninth, but Harris began the rally with a one-out walk. Morgan followed with a perfectly executed bunt that went for an infield single, and Guzman singled to left to load the bases.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/104894/Ryota_Igarashi">Ryota Igarashi</a> came on to get out of the jam, but Zimmerman's fly ball was just deep enough to plate Harris, as right fielder <span>Jeff Francoeur</span>'s throw was off-line.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/759/Livan_Hernandez">Livan Hernandez</a> dropped his earned run average to 2.98 after throwing seven innings of one-run ball, allowing seven hits while fanning seven with no walks. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/366/Matt_Capps">Matt Capps</a> (1-3) earned the win.</p>
<p>"Anytime you have a walkoff win, there's some extra excitement and enthusiasm, and you try to carry it over into the next day," Capps said. "Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. We'll try to take some of the momentum tonight and carry it tomorrow."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/733/Johan_Santana">Johan Santana</a> pitched well enough to win, giving up one run, six hits and two walks in seven frames, but the Mets lost for the third time in four games overall. <span>Ike Davis</span>' RBI single in the first provided the only offense.</p>
<p>"We know, and I know every game is important for us," Santana said. "That's the way I approach every outing. At the same time, I'm not going to do anything crazy ... It's just that tonight, it didn't work out."</p>
<p>Washington, meanwhile, will pin its hopes on righty <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/57013/Luis_Atilano">Luis Atilano</a>, who is 6-4 with a 4.33 ERA. Atilano did not get a decision on Sunday in Baltimore, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/BAL">Orioles</a> reached him for three runs (two earned) and five hits in seven innings of a 4-3 loss.</p>
<p>Atilano has faced the Mets twice this season and is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in those outings.</p>
<p>Washington has won seven of its last eight at home versus the Mets.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2010/7/2/2317367/mets-try-to-deal-with-nationals-again-tonightEd Valentine