Nats give Roark an early 3-0 lead (Nats win 5-2)

It didn't take long for the Nationals to break through against Mets lefty Jonathon Neise.

An RBI single by Jayson Werth, a Wilson Ramos sac fly and a run-scoring ground ball off the bat of Tyler Moore have staked right-hander Tanner Roark to a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Right from the start, Neise struggled. He allowed a leadoff single to Denard Span, watched as third baseman David Wright booted Anthony Rendon's grounder and served up a run-scoring single to left to Werth. Both Werth and Rendon moved up on the throw home, and Ramos followed with a sac fly to left-center. Ian Desmond drew a walk and Scott Hairston's single loaded the bases.

Moore grounded to second, but what should have been an inning-ending double play turned into a run-scoring fielder's choice when second baseman Daniel Murphy bobbled the ball and Moore beat out the relay to first from shortstop Ruben Tejada for a 3-0 lead.

Niese got out fo the inning when Moore was caught off first base and Desmond was tagged out in a rundown between home and third.

Update: While Roark continues to shut down the Mets, the Nats have increased their lead to 5-0 in the third. Ramos singled with one out and scored on a two-out double to left-center by Hairston. Moore's RBI single then plated Hairston.

Update II: Roark is through five innings with a 5-2 lead. An RBI groundout by Tejada put the Mets on the board and broke the right-hander's home scoreless streak at 19 innings this season. Eric Young Jr. later added an RBI double over the head of Hairston in left.

Roark isn't the only pitcher with a streak to fall tonight - coming into the game, Niese had allowed three or fewer runs in 11 straight starts.

A 27-pitch fifth has Roark up to 87 pitches. Ross Detwiler is warming.

Carlos Torres is on for the Mets in the bottom of the fifth. Neise allowed five runs (three earned) on eight hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Update III: A double-switch has Roark done for the night, Nate McLouth in left field and Detwiler on the mound with a 5-2 lead in the sixth. Roark yielded two runs on four hits, walked a pair and struck out four in five innings.

Update IV: The Nats win 5-2, improving to 4-0 against the Mets in 2014. The bullpen came through with four innings of scoreless relief.

Rafael Soriano put runners on first and second with two outs and Murphy slammed a ball that Werth leaped at the wall to bring in. Exhale, NatsTown.