By Joseph White, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — It’s merely a consolation that the New York Mets finished with a winning record on their road trip.

The Mets were rolling until the bats went quiet over the weekend against the Washington Nationals. Scott Hairston’s solo home runs accounted for both of New York’s runs in a 3-2 defeat Sunday.

The Mets were shut out 3-0 Saturday to finish 6-4 on their swing through Florida, Cincinnati and Washington. They now head back to New York for a 10-game homestand.

“It’s frustrating to lose back-to-back games,” Hairston said. “We’re playing good as a whole. We didn’t catch our breaks toward the end there. We’ve just got to keep our heads up. There’s a lot of time left.”

Amid the annual anxiety of trade deadline day, the Mets lost the game on a walk-off chopper up the middle in the ninth. As it turned out, all those eyeing the large clock attached to the scoreboard in right-center field were waiting for naught — the 4 p.m. deadline passed with neither team making a deal, leaving them instead to focus on persevering through an afternoon in which the first-pitch temperature was 96 degrees.

The Mets were down to their last out in the top of the ninth when Hairston hit a sinker that didn’t sink from Drew Storen (6-2). The drive barely cleared the left field fence.

In the bottom of the ninth, Jesus Flores opened with a single to right off Bobby Parnell (3-3), New York’s fifth pitcher. Parnell then hit Ankiel with a pitch to put runners on first and second with none out.

Brian Bixler attempted to sacrifice, but first baseman Daniel Murphy pounced on the bunt and threw to third to force out Flores. Parnell, also chasing the bunt, made an awkward landing on his left ankle on the play but stayed in the game.

Ankiel and Bixler advanced on a wild pitch, forcing the Mets to bring the infield in for Ian Desmond, whose chopper was deflected by Parnell. Second baseman Willie Harris’ throw was too late to get Ankiel, and the game was over.

“I felt like I made a good pitch and got a groundball,” Parnell said. “Unfortunately, it was that high and I couldn’t get to it. That’s the game of baseball. What can you do? … We still had a good road trip, but I wish the plane ride could be a little bit happier.”

The game was a scoreless tie until the sixth, when Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse doubled in a two-run inning off New York starter Jonathon Niese.

The Mets had their chances early. They loaded the bases with a walk to the pitcher and a pair of singles in the third, but David Wright hit into a 9-3-4 double play when Murphy strayed too far off first on a flyout to right field.

New York then had Murphy and Wright on base with one out in the sixth. Zimmermann balked, allowing both to advance, but he composed himself to strike out Angel Pagan and Jason Bay.

“Those are chances we usually have capitalized on, not only this trip but throughout the year,” manager Terry Collins said. “Today we had miscommunication on the fly ball to right and it cost us. And then the strikeout to Angel. We’ve got to make those situations count, for sure.”

Notes: Wright has hits in all 10 games since returning from the disabled list. However, his streak of seven straight multihit games came to an end. … The Nationals optioned RHP Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse and recalled LHP Atahualpa Severino from Syracuse. Severino’s first appearance with the Nationals will mark his major league debut. … Washington LF Jonny Gomes singled twice, his first two hits after a 0-for-6 start since being acquired in a trade from Cincinnati last week.

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

WASHINGTON —
Rick AnkielRick Ankiel scored on Ian Desmond’s chopper up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Washington Nationals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on a scorcher of a summer afternoon.

With runners on second and third and the infield in, Desmond bounced the ball over pitcher Bobby Parnell, who deflected it with his glove. Second baseman Willie Harris’ throw was too late to get Ankiel.

Amid the annual anxiety of trade deadline day, the Nationals quieted the Mets’ bats again to take two games in the three-game series. As it turned out, all those eyeing the clock were waiting for naught – neither team announced a deal as of the 4 p.m.

deadline, leaving them instead to persevere through a day when the first-pitch temperature was 96 degrees.

Scott Hairston hit two home runs, including a tying shot that just cleared the left-field fence with two outs in the ninth, to account for the only runs for the Mets, who were shut out 3-0 on Saturday and finished 6-4 on their road trip.

Jesus Flores opened the bottom of the ninth with a single to right off Parnell (3-3), New York’s fifth pitcher. Parnell then hit Ankiel with a pitch to put runners on first and second with none out. Brian Bixler attempted to sacrifice, but first baseman Daniel Murphy pounced on the bunt and threw to third to force out Flores.

Ankiel and Bixler advanced on a wild pitch, forcing the Mets to bring the infield in for Desmond.

Drew Storen (6-2) got the win after blowing the save, having allowed Hairston’s second homer. Storen, the subject of trade speculation throughout the day, was greeted with rousing cheers as he jogged in from the bullpen – still in a Nationals uniform.

Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse doubled in a two-run sixth off New York starter Jonathon Niese to break a scoreless tie, with Morse’s opposite-field stroke kissing the chalk down the right-field line for his second two-bagger of the game. Zimmerman is batting .436 during a nine-game hitting streak.

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann righted himself after giving up six earned runs in each of his previous two starts. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowed seven hits, walked only one and struck out six – including the last two batters he faced to work out of a second-and-third, one-out jam.

Sean Burnett entered in the seventh and immediately allowed Hairston’s third pinch-hit homer of the season, a solo shot to left field. Hairston remained in the game and struck again in the ninth, putting Storen’s 1-0 pitch into the visitors’ bullpen.

The Mets had their chances early. They loaded the bases with a walk to the pitcher and a pair of singles in the third, but David Wright hit into a 9-3-4 double play when Murphy strayed too far off first on a flyout to right field.

New York then had Murphy and Wright on base with one out in the sixth. Zimmermann balked, allowing both to advance, but he composed himself to strike out Angel Pagan and Jason Bay. scored on Ian Desmond’s chopper up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Washington Nationals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on a scorcher of a summer afternoon.

With runners on second and third and the infield in, Desmond bounced the ball over pitcher Bobby Parnell, who deflected it with his glove. Second baseman Willie Harris’ throw was too late to get Ankiel.

Amid the annual anxiety of trade deadline day, the Nationals quieted the Mets’ bats again to take two games in the three-game series. As it turned out, all those eyeing the clock were waiting for naught – neither team announced a deal as of the 4 p.m.

deadline, leaving them instead to persevere through a day when the first-pitch temperature was 96 degrees.

Scott Hairston hit two home runs, including a tying shot that just cleared the left-field fence with two outs in the ninth, to account for the only runs for the Mets, who were shut out 3-0 on Saturday and finished 6-4 on their road trip.

Jesus Flores opened the bottom of the ninth with a single to right off Parnell (3-3), New York’s fifth pitcher. Parnell then hit Ankiel with a pitch to put runners on first and second with none out. Brian Bixler attempted to sacrifice, but first baseman Daniel Murphy pounced on the bunt and threw to third to force out Flores.

Ankiel and Bixler advanced on a wild pitch, forcing the Mets to bring the infield in for Desmond.

Drew Storen (6-2) got the win after blowing the save, having allowed Hairston’s second homer. Storen, the subject of trade speculation throughout the day, was greeted with rousing cheers as he jogged in from the bullpen – still in a Nationals uniform.

Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse doubled in a two-run sixth off New York starter Jonathon Niese to break a scoreless tie, with Morse’s opposite-field stroke kissing the chalk down the right-field line for his second two-bagger of the game. Zimmerman is batting .436 during a nine-game hitting streak.

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann righted himself after giving up six earned runs in each of his previous two starts. He pitched six scoreless innings, allowed seven hits, walked only one and struck out six – including the last two batters he faced to work out of a second-and-third, one-out jam.

Sean Burnett entered in the seventh and immediately allowed Hairston’s third pinch-hit homer of the season, a solo shot to left field. Hairston remained in the game and struck again in the ninth, putting Storen’s 1-0 pitch into the visitors’ bullpen.

The Mets had their chances early. They loaded the bases with a walk to the pitcher and a pair of singles in the third, but David Wright hit into a 9-3-4 double play when Murphy strayed too far off first on a flyout to right field.

New York then had Murphy and Wright on base with one out in the sixth. Zimmermann balked, allowing both to advance, but he composed himself to strike out Angel Pagan and Jason Bay.

—
FOR MORE NEW YORK SPORTS CLICK HERE TO VISIT ESPN NEW YORK

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) — Ian Desmond’s infield bouncer in the ninth inning drove in the game-winning run Sunday, lifting Washington to a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets.

With the score tied 2-2, Jesus Flores led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off Bobby Parnell (3-3) and went to second when Rick Ankiel was hit with a pitch.

Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Desmond then chopped a bouncer over Parnell’s head. Mets second baseman Willie Harris grabbed it and threw home but Flores slid in under the tag with the decisive run.

The rally made a winner of Drew Storen (6-2), despite yielding the tying run in the top of the ninth Scott Hairston’s second homer of the game, a solo homer.

Nationals starter Jason Zimmermann hurled six shutout innings, giving up seven hits, walking one and fanning six.

Hairston also delivered a bases-empty homer in the seventh for the Mets, who dropped the rubber match of a three-game set at Nationals Park.

It was the 17th time in 22 starts Dickey (5-9) has gone at least six innings. He has a 3.77 ERA this season but has just one win in his last six starts.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s more than that,” Dickey said. “I expect more when I look at my name and see that stat line by it. I just do. So, it’s painful to look down there and know you haven’t contributed to more wins.”

The Mets offense was shut down by Nationals starter Yunesky Maya, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to fill in for scheduled starter Jason Marquis, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the game.

Maya (1-1) allowed five hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings and earned his first career win in 10 starts. He entered the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before gametime and about 45 minutes before Washington announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

New York manager Terry Collins said the late switch probably didn’t change the outcome, it put the Mets at a disadvantage.

“In terms of preparation, it is,” Collins said. “There’s no question to me. We’re waiting to find out who it is, but I know (Nationals manager) Davey (Johnson) well enough to know that if he could’ve done it any other way, he would’ve.”

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Maya gave up consecutive one-out singles in the sixth to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning and get Maya out of the jam.

“He just moved his pitches,” said Josh Thole, who had two hits. “We hit the ball pretty good off him. We put some good swings on the ball, just right at guys.”

The Mets rallied in the ninth, but fell short against Nationals closer Drew Storen (26th save). Wright led off with a walk, and Thole and Jason Bay each singled to load the bases with two outs for pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who struck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say. Good pitch.

“It could’ve been arguably low, but it could’ve been arguably there,” Harris said. “So, I’m not complaining about the call the umpire made.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against Dickey and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 pitch deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, we’d still be playing,” Dickey said.

The Nationals snapped a six-game losing streak, their longest of the season.

NOTES: The Nationals traded utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to Milwaukee for OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Wright had two singles, giving him a career-high seven consecutive multihit games. Wright has a hit in all nine games since he returned from the disabled list (lower back stress fracture) on July 22.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — R.A. Dickey had another strong start for the New York Mets. Once again, he didn’t end up with the outcome he wanted.

Dickey allowed six hits in six innings, including a three-run home run by Jayson Werth in the first, and the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 3-0 Saturday night.

It was the 17th time in 22 starts Dickey (5-9) has gone at least six innings. He has a 3.77 ERA this season but has just one win in his last six starts.

“It’s frustrating, but it’s more than that,” Dickey said. “I expect more when I look at my name and see that stat line by it. I just do. So, it’s painful to look down there and know you haven’t contributed to more wins.”

The Mets offense was shut down by Nationals starter Yunesky Maya, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game to fill in for scheduled starter Jason Marquis, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the game.

Maya (1-1) allowed five hits in 5 1-3 scoreless innings and earned his first career win in 10 starts. He entered the Nationals clubhouse in street clothes about an hour before gametime and about 45 minutes before Washington announced the trade. The late notice didn’t seem to affect him as he retired the first seven batters and didn’t allow a hit until David Wright singled with two outs in the fourth.

New York manager Terry Collins said the late switch probably didn’t change the outcome, it put the Mets at a disadvantage.

“In terms of preparation, it is,” Collins said. “There’s no question to me. We’re waiting to find out who it is, but I know (Nationals manager) Davey (Johnson) well enough to know that if he could’ve done it any other way, he would’ve.”

The Mets were shutout for the fifth time this season and ended a five-game winning streak.

Maya gave up consecutive one-out singles in the sixth to Daniel Murphy and Wright, leading Nationals manager Davey Johnson to bring in reliever Ross Detwiler, who promptly got Angel Pagan to ground into a double play.

New York had perhaps its best offensive chance in the fifth. A pair of two-out singles by Josh Thole and Dickey brought up Jose Reyes with runners on first and second. Reyes hit a ball deep to right-center but Werth caught it on the warning track to end the inning and get Maya out of the jam.

“He just moved his pitches,” said Josh Thole, who had two hits. “We hit the ball pretty good off him. We put some good swings on the ball, just right at guys.”

The Mets rallied in the ninth, but fell short against Nationals closer Drew Storen (26th save). Wright led off with a walk, and Thole and Jason Bay each singled to load the bases with two outs for pinch-hitter Willie Harris, who struck out looking on a slider to end the game.

“The strike-three pitch was a straight-up pitcher’s pitch,” Harris said. “Good pitch, all I can really say. Good pitch.

“It could’ve been arguably low, but it could’ve been arguably there,” Harris said. “So, I’m not complaining about the call the umpire made.”

Washington grabbed the lead in the first inning. Rick Ankiel led off with a single against Dickey and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch. Dickey walked Michael Morse to put runners on the corners for Werth, who drove a 3-2 pitch deep to center field for his 12th home run of the season.

“If I had three pitches back, we’d still be playing,” Dickey said.

The Nationals snapped a six-game losing streak, their longest of the season.

NOTES: The Nationals traded utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to Milwaukee for OF Erik Komatsu, who was with Double-A Huntsville. Washington recalled OF Brian Bixler from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Hairston’s roster spot. … Wright had two singles, giving him a career-high seven consecutive multihit games. Wright has a hit in all nine games since he returned from the disabled list (lower back stress fracture) on July 22.

Chien-Ming Wang, then with the New York Yankees, at Citi Field in New York, June 28, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) 

WASHINGTON, July 29 (UPI) — Daniel Murphy’s RBI single ignited a four-run first Friday that sent the New York Mets on their way to an 8-5 victory over Washington.

The big first inning ruined the return to the majors of Chien-Ming Wang, who once won 19 games in a season for the New York Yankees, and who started for them for five years before he was acquired by the Nationals. He spent the last two years in the minors trying to work his way back from shoulder surgery and was called up this week.

The first five batters reached base in the first against Wang (0-1), with Murphy driving in the opening run of the frame. Angel Pagan also singled in a run, Jason Bay’s ground out produced another and Lucas Duda added a sacrifice fly.

Wang settled down to pitch two scoreless innings before the Mets ended his appearance by producing two unearned runs in the fourth.

Dillon Gee (10-3) gave up three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings to get the victory. Jason Isringhausen came on as the sixth New York pitcher and worked a perfect ninth for his fifth save.