Strasburg sets all-time franchise strikeout record (Nats fall 7-6)

NEW YORK - April 7 was the last time the Nationals beat the Mets here at Citi Field. May 20-23, the Nats lost all four games. In that series, the Mets never scored more than six runs in a game. After that series, the Nats were 19-31. Nationals manager Davey Martinez said he made sure to keep his players upbeat during those trying times. The Nats have rebounded to win 42 games since that sweep.

"Even when things were going bad I seem to always have fun," Martinez said. "I got to keep the boys loose. That's part of it. When things were going bad we try to stay positive throughout the whole mess. I tell the boys there will be no pointing fingers. This thing will turn around.

"But we got to believe in ourselves and when it did then it really became fun. I'm proud of the guys and what they accomplished, what they've done. They're in it for something and it'd not done yet and they understand that. They go out there every day and they play hard."

The Mets are 13-1 in their last 14 games. Martinez said his emphasis pregame was to not worry about how hot the Mets have been playing, but instead continue to focus on what his team has done well.

"It's important for us to play Washington Nationals baseball," Martinez said. "That's what we focus on. The Mets are playing well. We're playing well. Our focus is on us and let's continue to play well."

Update: Before a rambunctious sold-out Friday night crowd at Citi Field, the Mets' Marcus Stroman and Nats' Stephen Strasburg are engaged in a pitcher's duel early on.

In Stroman's first career start in Flushing, N.Y., the right-hander has struck out seven batters and allowed only two infield singles in the first three frames.

Strasburg struck out three and allowed no hits in his first three innings.

His three strikeouts pushed his career total to 1,622, surpassing Steve Rogers at the top of the Expos/Nationals' career strikeout leaderboard.

After three innings, the Nats and the Mets are scoreless.

Update II: The Citi Field crowd quieted down in the top of the fourth as the Nats erupted for four consecutive base hits. Anthony Rendon blasted an RBI triple off the right-center field wall and Juan Soto launched a two-run shot, also over the right-center field wall. His 22nd homer of the season, which matched his season total from last season, lifted the Nats to a 3-0 lead.

Update III: The Mets punched back in the fourth against Strasburg. Pete Alonso cranked a two-run homer and J.D. Davis blasted a solo shot down the right field line to tie the game at 3-3.

Update IV: Rendon boomed a two-run shot over the left field wall off of Mets reliever Justin Wilson to help the Nats retake the lead 5-3 in the seventh frame. Rendon has 25 homers on the season.

Update V: The Nats manufactured a run in the ninth off of Robert Gsellman and Luis Avilán. Trea Turner and Adam Eaton dropped in singles. With Turner at third base, Avilán uncorked a wild pitch. Wilson Ramos was slow to retrieve the ball to the right of home plate. Turner slid home safely. The Nats led 6-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Update VI: The Mets were ready for Sean Doolittle in the ninth. Davis doubled to lead off the inning. Ramos singled to put two men on. Frazier then launched a dramatic three-run shot down the left field line to tie the game at 6-6 with nobody out.

Doolittle recorded two outs on a fielder's choice and a fly ball to right field. With pinch-hitter Juan Lagares at first base on the fielder's choice, Rosario singled to left field. Conforto singled over Eaton's head in right field to score Lagares with the walk-off winner.

Final score: the Mets 7, the Nats 6.