Down 4 In Eighth, Mets Rally With 6 to Beat Nationals

NEW YORK-- Trying to avoid losing the series to the upstart Nationals, and missing out on a chance for a winning home stand, the Mets sent young Jon Niese to the mound opposite Scott Olsen.

It didn't start out well for the young Niese, as he allowed a three-run home run in the first inning to Adam Dunn. It looked like the Mets were in big trouble, considering their lack of hitting with RISP.

They would scratch out a run against Scott Olsen in the second with a Jeff Francoeur RBI single.

In the fifth, trailing 3-1, it seemed as if the entire game was blowing up on the Mets. The Nationals tacked on three more runs off of Niese. A two-run hit by Ivan Rodriguez, followed by an RBI single by shortstop Ian Desmond extended the Nats lead to 6-1. As that point, it looked as if the Mets were thinking about Wednesday's day game.

One thing the Mets have proven this year is that they have plenty of fight in them. After Hisanori Takahashi and Raul Valdes shut the Nats offense down innings 6-8, the Mets responded in a huge way in the eighth.

Down 6-2, Jason Bay led off the inning with a hit. David Wright doubled. Ike Davis reached on an error as a run came in making it 6-3. Then, Nationals dominant setup man Tyler Clippard relieved Brian Bruney. After striking out Jeff Francoeur, he allowed a two-run double to Rod Barajas, who barely missed a game-tying three-run home run. With the score now 6-5, Alex Cora laid down a bunt single, Angel Pagan drove in a run with a hit and Chris Carter recorded a two-run double in his first Mets at-bat. That gave the Mets an 8-6 lead. Later on in the inning, Ike Davis hit a ball deep to right, around the foul pole with the bases loaded. After a review, the call remained a foul ball. He then flew out to center to end the inning.

In the ninth, with Francisco Rodriguez in for the save, after recording the first two outs, Ike Davis ended the game with his third dugout rail flip of the season. The Mets got a huge win, setting them up for a chance to win the series and home stand.

They'll have a great chance with Mike Pelfrey on the mound, opposing Craig Stammen on Wednesday.

With the win, coupled by the Nationals loss and Phillies being rained out, the Mets tie the Nationals at 18-15, 2 1/2 behind in the NL East.

Series probable pitchers:
May 12
New York: Mike Pelfrey (2010: 4-1, 2.65 ERA) vs. Washington: Craig Stammen (2010: 1-1, 5.63 ERA)

Upcoming schedule:
New York Mets:
May 12 vs. Washington Nationals
May 13-16 @ Florida Marlins

Washington Nationals:
May 12 @ New York Mets
May 13-16 @ Colorado Rockies