Lucas Duda, Mets take down Nats 3-2

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals were all over Mets ace Jacob deGrom out of the gates. Back-to-back one-out singles from Yunel Escobar and Bryce Harper gave the Nats runners at the corners. After Ryan Zimmerman drilled a ball right at Curtis Granderson, Jayson Werth worked a walk to load the bases.

Ian Desmond then delivered a clutch two-out broken bat liner up the middle, which just squirted past Ruben Tejada. Escobar and Harper scored easily on the base knock.

Wilson Ramos grounded out to end the frame, but the Nats forced deGrom to throw 31 early pitches.

Rookie right-hander Joe Ross retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the inning.

Update: Ross was cruising through the Mets order without allowing a hit until Lucas Duda smashed a sinker deep over the center field wall for a two-out homer in the fourth.

Update II: After struggling early, deGrom settled in and lasted six innings before leaving after 117 pitches. Right-hander Bobby Parnell took over for the Mets in the seventh.

Meanwhile, Ross continues dealing. The 22-year-old has yielded only two hits with a walk and six strikeouts through six frames. Duda's solo homer is the lone run for the Mets. Ross has thrown 84 pitches.

Update III: Duda smacked Ross' first pitch of the seventh over the left field wall to tie the game. The 29-year-old now has eight homers and nine RBIs over his last seven games.

Wilmer Flores grounded out, and then Kelly Johnson smoked a double to the left field corner, ending Ross' evening. Right-hander Casey Janssen came on to get out of the jam and keep the game tied.

Ross only allowed four hits with one walk and six strikeouts, but the two solo homers from Duda did him in. The rookie threw 92 pitches over 6 1/3 innings.

Update IV: Left-hander Matt Thornton came out of the bullpen for the eighth and promptly gave up a leadoff double to Curtis Granderson. After Daniel Murphy grounded out, Nationals manager Matt Williams made the call to intentionally walk Yoenis Cespedes to get to Duda.

Duda ripped Thornton's slider to left-center for a double, scoring Granderson for the eventual game-winning run.

Mets closer Jeurys Familia shut down the Nats in order in the ninth.

The Mets beat the Nats 3-2 and now trail by only one game in the National League East.