Clippard shaky again, but Nats beat Mets 4-3

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

July 18, 2012, 6:06pm

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As much as the Nationals might not enjoy facing the Marlins, they apparently love squaring off against the Mets. The Nats improved to 6-2 against the Mets this season with tonight's 4-3 win. For the time being, the Nationals move to four games up in the National League East, with the Braves still battling the Giants down in Atlanta. Jordan Zimmermann got the win tonight, pushing his record above .500 for the first time this season. He's now 7-6 on the year and sports a 2.35 ERA, currently sixth-best in the majors among starters. The righty didn't allow a run and surrendered just four hits over his six innings. All four Nationals runs came off the bats of Adam LaRoche (two-run homer in the sixth) and Steve Lombardozzi (two-run double in the seventh). Tyler Clippard surrendered two solo homers in the ninth, making it three home runs he's given up in the last two nights and creating some more late drama in this series. But the Nats closer also struck out the side to help lock up his 15th save of the season.