As expected, Nats and Mets wrap up first six games all even

It was expected that the Nationals and Mets could go down to the wire battling for the National League East crown.

After six matchups so far this season, nothing has changed.

The Mets shut out the Nationals 2-0 in the Wednesday matinee before a sellout crowd of 37,800 at Nationals Park.

The season series is now even at 3-3.

The teams have 13 meetings remaining, with the next series in D.C. beginning June 27.

"It makes us about even," manager Dusty Baker said after the loss. "We were half a game in front, so we've matched up good against them and they've matched up good against us. They beat us quite handily the first game, we beat them quite handily the second game. These teams are going to battle for a while."

Some asked why Baker wouldn't have slugger Bryce Harper start against a team like the Mets. Part of the reason for Harper's day off, besides his recent struggles at the plate, was the vaunted schedule the Nats are in the midst of working through.

"We knew that this was going to be one of our tougher stretches. I don't know, we're probably .500 I think during the stretch (14-12)," Baker said. "I mean, 14-12, we still got a few games left this month to try to get to my magic number of 15 a month. So it's a big. We just got to take it out on the Cardinals."

One player who knows how good the Mets have been first hand is former Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, now with the Nationals.

"We've gone 3-3? .500. It's a good club," Murphy reminds. "I think this is the way everybody kind of drew it up at the beginning of the year with the way Philly is playing as well, too. .500 against them, we would've liked to have won the series to put us in a good position. Steven (Matz) was good today."

Right-hander Tanner Roark took the tough-luck loss, allowing only one earned run. Obviously disappointed about not getting the win, he had this to say about the first couple of series against the Mets:

"Pretty good. We're even, 3-3. It's a battle. It's always going to be a battle. It's always fun. Getting into those battles."

His counterpart, right-hander Matz, notched the win Wednesday, but still has respect for the team he defeated.

"It was great, a great series," Matz said. "To take two games from these guys, it's a really tough team, it was fun."