Zimmerman broken-bat single stuns Mets in ninth 8-7

The Nationals rallied in the bottom of the ninth off reliever Bobby Parnell to stun the New York Mets 8-7. Jesus Flores led off with a base hit to left field and was replaced by pinch runner Brian Bixler. Bixler then got to second base on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Jonny Gomes walked to put men on first and second with no outs. The Mets then intentionally walked Roger Bernadina to face Ryan Zimmerman. Yes, that Ryan Zimmerman.

Zimmerman blooped a broken-bat single down the right field line to plate two and send the Nationals to a victory. Rookie starter Tom Milone showed good command early on, and contributed to the offense with a stunning three-run homer in his first major league at-bat on the first pitch he saw, handing the Nationals a 5-0 lead after three innings. But the Mets took advantage the second time through the order. Nick Evans' two-run shot capped off a four-run rally in the fourth that erased the Nationals' big cushion and made it 5-4. Milone lasted 4 1/3 innings, scattering six hits with four runs, no walks and two strikeouts. He threw 74 pitches, 51 for strikes. Ian Desmond and Bernadina also homered off of Mets starter Dillon Gee, who had allowed more than one homer in a game only one other time all season (Aug. 7 against Atlanta, three homers). The Nationals went up 6-4 after Bernadina's blast. But the Mets came all the way back and tied it off of Tom Gorzelanny courtesy of Jason Bay's two-run shot in the sixth. The game was even at 6-6 until a Lucas Duda sacrifice fly off Tyler Clippard plated former National Willie Harris in the seventh and the Mets took their first lead.