Santana Gets Mets Back On Track With Win Over Nationals
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WASHINGTON — Johan Santana hit two doubles and pitched seven solid innings, leading the New York Mets to a 7–2 win over the Washington Nationals last night.
Santana (3–2) allowed seven hits, none after the fourth inning, struck out four and walked one. As a batter, he had the second two-hit game of his career.
The Mets improved to 4–0 against the Nationals this season.
New York broke open a 2-all tie in the sixth with only one hit – Carlos Beltran’s leadoff single – leaving the infield. After Beltran’s hit, Ray King relieved Tim Redding (3–2) and Ryan Church hit a weak grounder to third. Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman charged, but his running throw to first was wide. Beltran scored and Church, credited with a single, wound up on third on Zimmerman’s throwing error.
Church scored two batters later on an infield single by Angel Pagan.
Pagan then stole second and third on consecutive pitches and scored on a groundout by Brian Schneider to give the Mets a 5-2 lead.
Redding gave up four hits and three runs in five-plus innings.
He also drove in both Washington runs with a two-out double in the fourth inning. It was the last hit of the game for the Nationals.
Santana and the bullpen shut the Nationals down after Redding’s double. Santana retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Duaner Sanchez pitched a perfect eighth, and Billy Wagner allowed a walk in the ninth.
