New York Local News

NEW YORK (AP) ― Tim Redding pitched splendidly into the eighth inning and the New York Mets ended their six-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.

Jeff Francoeur and Daniel Murphy supplied the offense for the Mets, who won for only the second time in 12 games. They avoided their longest skid since dropping 11 straight Aug. 28 to Sept. 8, 2004, according to STATS LLC.

Redding (3-6) outpitched left-hander John Lannan, who grew up in nearby Long Beach and tossed complete games against the Mets the previous two times he faced them this season.

Lannan (9-12) was on his game again, needing only 74 pitches to get through seven efficient innings. But the Mets scored twice in the seventh to snap a 1-all tie, taking advantage of a defensive mistake by rookie Ian Desmond, who was playing his first professional game in the outfield.

Desmond, normally a middle infielder, initially broke in on David Wright's liner to right, leaving him helpless when the ball sailed over his head for a leadoff double.

Francoeur followed with his second double of the game, putting New York ahead, and moved to third on Fernando Tatis' fly to right. Francoeur scored his second run of the day on Murphy's RBI grounder, which scooted past first baseman Adam Dunn for a two-base error.

Redding, who yielded only a bunt single through the first six innings, was lifted after Josh Bard's leadoff double in the eighth.

An ugly throwing error by reliever Sean Green cut it to 3-2, but Pedro Feliciano retired Dunn on a grounder with runners at the corners to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 38 chances, helped by Luis Castillo's diving play at second base. Desmond struck out to end a crisp game that took only 2 hours, 18 minutes.

Redding faced the minimum through 5 2-3 innings before walking Lannan on a full count in the sixth. The right-hander threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of his 26 batters and improved to 3-0 in his career against the Nationals, the team he pitched for the past two years.

Redding also singled for his second hit this season. When he came out, he received a warm ovation from the crowd of 37,906 on a beautiful afternoon.

Dunn's RBI single in the seventh tied it at 1. Cristian Guzman led off with an infield hit, moved up on Ryan Zimmerman's grounder and reached third on Josh Thole's passed ball, setting up Dunn's hit.

Francoeur hit a leadoff double in the second, advanced on Tatis' sacrifice and scored on Murphy's single over a drawn-in infield.

NOTES: The first six innings were played in 74 minutes. ... Mets CF Carlos Beltran didn't start, giving his right knee a rest following a night game Friday. Beltran returned to the lineup this month after missing 70 games with a bone bruise on his knee. Angel Pagan played center, with Tatis in left. ... Before the game, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman explained his decision to start Desmond in RF. "It's about getting his athleticism in the lineup," Riggleman said. "We're last in the league in defense, so there's no wrong answers. We've got to try everything." Riggleman also said he wanted to get Pete Orr a start in Desmond's spot at second base to keep Orr sharp. Elijah Dukes was the odd man out in the outfield. Dukes had reached base safely in his last 20 games, batting .381 during that stretch. ... It was Lannan's ninth career start against the Mets, his most against any opponent. ... The Mets held Jack Lang Day at Citi Field, honoring the Hall of Fame sports writer.




 

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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