Nationals  6    Mets  5

Washington Nationals (50-95) at New York Mets (84-60), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | September 18, 2009

(Sports Network) - Towering right-hander Mike Pelfrey can get to the .500 mark against the Washington Nationals and get beyond it for the season tonight, when the Mets entertain their visitors in the first test of a three-game set at Citi Field.

Pelfrey, the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft, is 3-4 lifetime in 10 starts against the Nationals, including a 3-1 loss on July 22 in which he gave up six hits and three runs in seven innings.

He's 10-10 on the season, however, having reached double-digit wins with a 4-2 defeat of the Chicago Cubs on September 6, when he allowed just one run on five hits in eight strong innings.

The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder was hit hard in one subsequent start, getting a no- decision after giving up 10 hits and eight runs in the Mets' 10-9 slugfest win at Philadelphia in September 12.

He is 6-3 at home in 2009 with a 3.56 earned run average.

Going for the Nationals will be rookie J.D. Martin, who'll start for the second time against the Mets in his 12th overall outing.

The 26-year-old Californian debuted against New York on July 20 in Washington and dropped a 6-2 verdict after allowing eight hits and five runs in just four innings.

Martin lost his first two decisions as a big-leaguer, but has since bounced back to win four of six, including a 5-3 win at Florida on September 11, in which he tossed five innings of two-hit, two-run ball.

A former draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in 2001, Martin has pitched six innings or more in five of his starts and allowed 59 hits in 56 2/3 overall innings.

He is 3-2 in five road starts with a 3.86 ERA.

On Thursday in Philadelphia, Cole Hamels was terrific on the mound, allowing a run over eight innings, as the Phillies defeated Washington, 4-2, to complete a three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park.

Elijah Dukes and Ian Desmond each drove in a run for Washington, which has dropped four of five. Ross Detwiler (0-6) absorbed the loss despite allowing just a run and four hits in five innings of work.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Brian McCann homered and drove in four runs, powering the Braves to a 7-3 victory and a three-game sweep of the Mets.

Nelson Figueroa (2-6) surrendered six runs on nine hits in five innings for New York, which has dropped nine of 10.

Fernando Tatis drove in two runs and Daniel Murphy -- whose misplay of a ball allowed the Braves to score the winning run Wednesday -- added a solo homer in defeat.

New York is 8-4 against the Nats this season.