Zimmerman provides early advantage (Mets win 5-3)

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg allowed just one hit through two innings in his first start since April 20.

Michael Conforto led off the game with a single and later stole second base. But Strasburg got three outs in a row to keep the Mets off the scoreboard. The second inning was a 1-2-3 frame.

The Nationals got a one-out double from Michael A. Taylor to begin their half of the first. After a strikeout of Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman followed with a RBI single to left field and the Nationals took a 1-0 lead.

Zack Wheeler then struck out Daniel Murphy to end the first.

In the bottom of the second, Anthony Rendon led off with a walk, but Wheeler got the next three to end the inning.

After two innings at a hot and muggy Nats Park, the Nationals lead the Mets 1-0.

Update: The Nationals tested Wheeler in the third. Trea Turner walked and Taylor singled. Harper struck out for the second time and Zimmerman grounded out to first. Murphy was intentionally walked.

Rendon then connected on a hard hit line drive to deep center, but it hung up for Curtis Granderson and the third out stranded the bases loaded.

The Mets went 1-2-3 in the fourth against Strasburg.

After three and a half innings, the Nationals hold a 1-0 lead.

Update II: In the fifth, the Mets rallied to take the lead. Jose Reyes singled and T.J.Rivera doubled. With Reyes at third, Travis d'Arnaud fielder's choice to shortstop score the Mets first run. Michael Conforto later slammed a two-run shot his fifth of the season on a 3-1 pitch, and the Mets lead 3-1.

Mid-fifth, Mets have the lead.

Update III: In the bottom of the fifth, Jose Reyes error at third helped the Nats score a run. Turner was safe at first and moved to second on the error. After a Taylor single (he's 3-for-3), Harper grounded into a 1-6-3 double play. Turner moved to third. Zimmerman singled on a grounder to third, scoring Turner.

After five innings, the Mets lead the Nationals 3-2.

Update IV: Strasburg did a nice job getting through seven innings. He allowed three runs on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 94 pitches, 63 for strikes. The Conforto two-run shot the one he'd like back, but still a fifth straight quality start to begin the season, which sets a new career-high.

Conforto slammed his second homer of the game to leadoff the eighth against reliever Enny Romero. He now has six homers on the season and three RBIs on the day.

Update V: Zimmerman crushed a solo homer, his 11th of the season, in the eighth. He has now hit a home run in five of his last six games and seven of his last 10. The 11 homers in April match his career high from September 2013. After eight innings, the Mets lead the Nationals 4-3.

Update VI: The Mets got a big insurance run in ninth. Jose Reyes hits a solo shot off of Shawn Kelley for a 5-3 Mets lead.

The Nationals could not mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth against Jeurys Familia, going three up, three down. It's their first series loss since April 9.

Final score: Mets 5, Nationals 3.