Teaching Nationals' Tyler Moore left field last season paying huge dividends now

This and that as the Nationals earned their 89th win of the season in a 2-0 win at New York against the Mets: • Pretty amazing to think Tyler Moore had played first base his entire career and had two games in left field at Triple-A Syracuse before being promoted to the Nationals. Now with Michael Morse laboring with a sprained wrist, Moore's play in left field, and that forward thinking the franchise had to work him in the outfield at instructional league last season, are paying dividends now. Manager Davey Johnson does not have to worry about hurrying Morse back with the big bat and solid defense of Moore available and these at-bats will help him when October arrives. • Even though left-hander Sean Burnett allowed two hits, it was the two outs and the way he pitched that made me feel comfortable his elbow is good to go. Burnett is a critical piece of the puzzle for these final few weeks and has been important from the beginning of the Nats run. • Had to be an emotional night for left-hander John Lannan, throwing near his hometown with his family at Citi Field, in only his third appearance of the season. Look up and he has won all three games he pitched in this year, not allowing the Mets to score. "Felt great to be on any mound. From the get go my two-seam felt great so I stuck with it," Lannan told MASN's Kristina Akra. • Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit his 22nd homer of the season Wednesday, which was his 150th of his career. With that homer, Zimmerman set a franchise record with his ninth consecutive game with at least one RBI. • The Nationals hit 22 homers against the Mets in 18 games this season, most against any opponent in 2012. • The Nationals have hit 137 homers in games they won and 34 homers in games they lost. When the Nationals win, they average 1.54 home runs per game. Still with me? • With the 2013 schedule released, the Nationals will travel to Kansas City for the first time. In 2010, the Nats beat the Royals 2-1 in D.C. It will be the first time the franchise has been to Kansas City as a team to play the Royals since the Expos won two out of three there in 2004.