Reynaldo Lopez (3-3) was among three relievers to combine for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
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New York Mets’ T.J. Rivera runs to first base, but is thrown out by Washington Nationals shortstop Danny Espinosa for the final out of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, in Washington.
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper dives for home scoring a run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, in Washington.
The Mets went 6-3 on this nine game road trip.
Left-hander Jerry Blevins struck out Murphy with a 3-2 curveball in the 10th inning for his first save since 2012 to seal the Mets’ 4-3 victory.
The first-place Washington Nationals are in the midst of another pennant race, aiming for their third National League East title in five years. It was the 17th time in 30 starts this year that Roark has pitched seven innings or more and his season ERA now sits at 2.75.
One of Roark’s three second-half losses came in an outing against the Mets in Citi Field earlier this month, when he gave up four hits, four walks and two earned runs in a 3-1 loss. Rivera, who had three RBIs, drilled an 0-2 pitch with one out in the 10th into the left field seats off Nationals closer Mark Melancon (2-2).
Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) will soon be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.
Daniel Murphy’s single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 12 games overall and meant at least one hit in all 19 games against his former team this season. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put Washington ahead 6-1.
“He went from being a 15-game victor to going to the bullpen”, said Clint Robinson, who knows the feeling as backup first baseman to Ryan Zimmerman.
“Jeurys is tough”, Murphy said.
Last year he spent most of the year in the bullpen as the team signed Max Scherzer to a free agent contract prior to the 2015 campaign. He lasted 1 2/3 innings for the shortest of his 12 career big league starts, allowing five hits and six runs with four walks and two strikeouts.
Roark fired seven scoreless innings, yielded just three hits, issued four walks and fanned seven batters on 101 pitches (56 strikes).
Salas, who was 3-6 with the Angels, had not allowed a run in seven appearances since being acquired from Los Angeles on August 31.
Twins 8, Tigers 1 • Jorge Polanco homered and drove in four runs, Brian Dozier added three more hits to his torrid second half and visiting Minnesota beat Detroit. Flores has not played since being involved in a home-plate collision Saturday in Atlanta. OF Justin Ruggiano, on the DL since August 27, underwent left shoulder surgery.
Wilson Ramos (middle), who hit the game’s deciding home run, watches one of Jose Reyes’ two strikeouts of the afternoon.
Noah Syndergaard pitches against the Nationals, in Washington, on Tuesday.
Roark finished that night in NY (0-2) against the Mets this season, in spite of the fact that he had a 1.88 ERA and a.180/.268/.280 line against in 14 ⁄3 IP vs the Nats’ NL East rivals in two starts and one relief appearance this season.
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Right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark burst upon the major league scene in 2014 as he won 15 games as a member of the Washington Nationals starting rotation.
