Harvey steals spotlight in matchup with Strasburg (Mets win 6-3)

For the third time in this series, an error by Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond has led to runs for the Mets. With one out in the third and Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson on first base, third baseman David Wright hit a tailor-made double play grounder right at Desmond. He misplayed the hop and by the time he was able to gather and throw to first, it was too late and both runners were safe.

Then the wheels fell off.

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg missed on a curveball inside that struck Mets first baseman Lucas Duda on the back foot to load the bases. Then left fielder Michael Cuddyer lined a ball over Nats second baseman Dan Uggla's outstretched glove to score Granderson. Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy followed with a chopper that first baseman Ryan Zimmerman had no play on, allowing Wright to cross the plate. Two batters later, catcher Travis d'Arnaud blooped a ball to shallow center, scoring Duda and Cuddyer.

Three of the four runs in the inning were unearned for Strasburg, who has given up six hits with two walks and four strikeouts through five today.

Desmond's three errors are now responsible for six of the eight runs the Mets have scored this series.

Mets starter Matt Harvey has been overpowering in his first regular season start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Harvey is challenging Nats hitters with a relentless barrage of 97 mph fastballs. Center fielder Michael A. Taylor and right fielder Bryce Harper accounted for four of Harvey's six strikeouts through four innings.

The Nats' best scoring opportunity came in the second when back-to-back hits from Desmond and Uggla led to runners at the corners for catcher Jose Lobaton. But Harvey got Lobaton looking to squander another early game chance.

Update: Three more singles in the sixth inning led to two more Mets runs and ended Strasburg's afternoon. He gave up six runs, three earned, on nine hits with three walks, five strikeouts and one hit batter in 5 1/3 innings.

Harper struck out swinging at more high heat from Harvey for the third time in the sixth. Harvey has allowed just four hits with one walk and nine strikeouts through six innings.

Update II: After Desmond and Lobaton drew walks in the seventh, Taylor smoked a double off Mets reliever Buddy Carlyle to put the Nats on the scoreboard. It was a strong at-bat for Taylor, who wasted several good two-strike pitches before driving the ball off the wall in left-center.

The Mets lead the Nats 6-2 in the eighth.

Update III: It's a 6-3 final. In the last of the ninth, Desmond doubled and scored on a Reed Johnson single. On to Philadelphia, where the Nats open a two-city, six-game road trip.