Mets take early lead (Nats fall 4-3)

The Mets took advantage of Gio Gonzalez's early first inning troubles.

Gonzalez allowed a leadoff single to Mets' left fielder Eric Young Jr., hit Juan Lagares with a pitch, and with one out, walked Lucas Duda. Catcher Travis d'Arnaud followed with a bases-clearing double to give the Mets a 3-0 lead after one inning.

With two runs scored, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos dropped the ball at the plate, which allowed Duda to score.

We head to the second inning with the Nats trailing 3-0.

Update: The Nats' bats came alive in the third inning. Anthony Rendon led off the inning with a single and then scored on Adam LaRoche's RBI single. It was LaRoche's fourth RBI of this series.

Two outs later, Ramos then singled home LaRoche to cut the Mets' lead to 3-2.

The game is headed to the bottom of the third with the Nats trailing 3-2.

Update II: Anthony Rendon's leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth knotted the game at 3-3. This is the second consecutive night that Rendon has homered at Citi Field.

We head to the bottom of the fifth with the score tied.

Update III: Well, that tie didn't last long.

Gonzalez allowed a leadoff single to Young and Lagares immediately followed with an RBI double which gave the Mets a 4-3 lead.

The Mets lead 4-3 as we head to the sixth.

Update IV: Manager Matt Williams replaced Gonzalez with Aaron Barrett with two outs in the seventh.

Gonzalez pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, four runs, three earned runs, walked one and struck out seven. He threw 110 pitches, 76 for strikes.

If the score holds, Gonzalez will be charged with this 10th loss of the season.

We head to the eighth with the Mets leading 4-3.

Update V: The Mets were able to hang on for their first win at Citi Field over the Nationals in a 1 1/2 years.

Denard Span led off the inning with a single and then stole his 30th base of the year. But the Nats were unable to capitalize as they fell 4-3.

Gonzalez falls to 8-10 on the season and the Nats are now 83-63.