Nationals trounce Mets 8-1, reduce magic number to nine

Given a surprise opportunity to start a mid-September ballgame for a first-place club trying to put the finishing touches on its chief division rival, Mat Latos delivered both on the mound and at the plate.

Unfortunately, what was shaping up to be a memorable night for the 28-year-old journeyman ended prematurely when he was forced to depart the Nationals' 8-1 victory over the Mets in the top of the fifth inning with an apparent leg injury.

As disappointing as the end of Latos' night was, he did play a major role in helping the Nationals cruise to victory in the opener of the final regular-season series between the two National League East rivals. With this win, the Nats now lead the Mets by 10 games with 18 to play, their magic number now in single digits at nine.

They put the hammer to New York early tonight, jumping out to a 6-1 lead after two innings thanks in part to a blast by the unlikeliest source: Latos.

The big right-hander hit the fourth home run of his career - he hit his first at Nationals Park while playing for the Padres in 2010 - to ignite a second-inning rally that also included a three-run homer by Anthony Rendon.

Rendon's blast, his 18th of the season, knocked Mets starter Rafael Montero from the game before he could record six outs. The young right-hander was in trouble from the get-go, issuing three first-inning walks (two of them with the bases loaded) to give the Nationals the lead for good.

Wilson Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman also contributed back-to-back, two-out RBI singles in the fourth, extending the Nationals' lead to seven runs.

Latos, selected to make the start over rookies Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in place of the injured Stephen Strasburg, was in line to earn his first big league win as a starter since he was pitching for the White Sox in May. The 28-year-old gave up a first-inning run but was effective after that, allowing just three hits through 4 1/3 innings.

But after allowing that third hit, Jose Reyes' single to right, Latos grabbed his right leg in pain. He looked toward Ramos, then the Nationals dugout, prompting manager Dusty Baker, pitching coach Mike Maddux and head athletic trainer Paul Lessard to emerge to check on him.

Latos wound up walking off the field in disappointment. The Nationals did not provide an official reason for his departure during the game.

Because Latos failed to complete the minimum five innings required to earn the win, the official scorer awarded it instead to Lopez, who pitched three scoreless innings in his first career relief appearance.