Recap: Washington vs. NY Mets

Sports Network | September 30, 2009

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Justin Maxwell's second career grand slam capped a five-run ninth inning as Washington downed the New York Mets, 7-4, in the finale of a three-game set from Nationals Park.

Ryan Zimmerman homered while Adam Dunn and Alberto Gonzalez added an RBI each for the Nationals, who swept the series after losing four straight.

"I think we played for the most part pretty good baseball in the second half. We're excited about what we have," Zimmerman said. "We just want to go out, have fun and hopefully win. You don't quit, just keep on going."

Ron Villone (5-6) recorded the final two outs in the ninth for the win.

Omir Santos knocked in a pair of runs for the Mets, who have dropped four of five. Francisco Rodriguez (3-6) was also saddled with his seventh blown save of the year after allowing three hits and five runs along with two walks.

"It's been very tough for us, so we hope that we can get through (this season) and then regroup," lamented Mets manager Jerry Manuel. "That's simply what we gotta do."

Sitting on a two-run lead in the ninth, Rodriguez worked himself into trouble immediately, allowing an infield hit to Gonzalez and a line pinch-hit single from Mike Morse. Willie Harris' sacrifice bunt moved the runners up then Elijah Dukes walked to load the bases. Zimmerman fanned swinging but Dunn walked to force in a run and make it 4-3.

Maxwell then worked a 3-2 count before slamming a ball just over the left- field wall to end the game.

"Right before, I was just watching everybody's at-bats. They were all good ones leading up to mine," said Maxwell of his mindset. "All I wanted to do was put the ball in play to give us a chance, and it kind of worked out well."

The Mets tallied twice in the second inning on a Fernando Tatis sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Santos.

A Gonzalez sac fly in the fifth brought the Nats within one, but Carlos Beltran's run-scoring hit in the sixth restored New York's two-run edge.

Washington failed to cut into its deficit with runners on first and second in the seventh, but Zimmerman's one-out homer off Bobby Parnell made it a 3-2 game in the eighth.

Sean Green entered the game but Josh Willingham reached on a throwing error by David Wright and Josh Bard walked before Ian Desmond hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

In the ninth, Jeff Francoeur moved to second on a throwing error by Zimmerman and Tatis singled before Santos dumped a single to right which gave the Mets a 4-2 edge. New York failed to add to the lead despite second and third with one out later in the frame.

The Mets won 10 of the 18 meetings this season but the Nationals took six of nine in DC...New York completes its 2009 season by hosting the Astros for three starting Friday and Washington heads to Atlanta on Thursday for a season-ending four-game set...Nationals starter John Lannan allowed four hits and three runs -- two earned -- over seven full innings, while Mets starter Tim Redding yielded four hits and one run in six frames...Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano broke his own record by appearing in his 87th game of the season.