Gio Gonzalez outduels Matt Harvey in Nats' 7-2 win

After striking out Curtis Granderson to open the game, Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez issued a walk to Ruben Tejada. Daniel Murphy then ripped a fastball down the right field line to give the Mets runners at second and third with one out. In early trouble, Gonzalez scrambled off the mound to field a slow grounder and then fired to first to beat Wilmer Flores for the out while keeping Tejada at third.

John Mayberry Jr. followed with a sharp grounder down the third base line, which appeared destined for extra bases and multiple runs until Yunel Escobar made a sensational diving stop. Escobar hopped to his feet and fired a bullet to Clint Robinson to end the threat.

The Nationals jumped on Mets starter Matt Harvey in the first. With one out, Danny Espinosa dragged a bunt up the first base line for a single. Bryce Harper then walked to reach base for only the second time in 14 plate appearances against Harvey.

Escobar followed with a sharp grounder through the hole into left plating Espinosa for the game's first run. Harvey then had Robinson down 0-2 when he bounced a changeup, which Anthony Recker didn't control immediately. Harper took off for third and Escobar left late for second. Recker fired to Flores, who caught Escobar in a rundown but lost track of Harper, who raced all the way to the plate for the Nationals' second run.

Eric Campbell started the second with a blistered liner, but Escobar made another diving grab.

Gonzalez has yielded two hits with one walk and three strikeouts through three innings.

Update: Espinosa led off the third with a single to right and Harper followed with another walk. Two batters later, Robinson smacked a double that one-hopped off the center field wall, scoring Espinosa and Harper.

Robinson then scored all the way from second after Ian Desmond hit a grounder to third that Murphy charged but threw errantly to Eric Campbell at first.

Update II: Gonzalez ran into trouble with two outs in the fourth. Campbell walked and Juan Lagares drilled a double to the gap in right-center field. With Harvey on deck, Gonzalez intentionally walked Recker.

Gonzalez blew two heaters past Harvey, but on third, the Mets right-hander slapped a two-run single just over the outstretched glove of Espinosa and into right.

Update III: Gonzalez lasted six innings, allowing two runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches.

Left-hander Matt Thornton pitched a perfect seventh.

Michael A. Taylor made the play of the game in the fifth. With two outs and two runners on, Campbell drove a ball deep to right-center field. Covering tremendous ground, Taylor sprinted and leaped at the wall to rob Campbell of extra bases and save two runs.

Update IV: Desmond smacked a two-run homer to right off Mets left-hander Alex Torres with one out in the eighth. It was Desmond's eighth home run of the year and first since June 28. Desmond is 2-for-4 tonight.

Right-hander Casey Janssen pitched a scoreless eighth.

Closer Drew Storen will pitch the ninth.

Update V: Storen gave up a couple hits in the ninth before closing it out.

Gonzalez gets the win.

The Nationals beat the Mets 7-2 and now lead the National League East by three games.