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Mets clobber Nationals behind huge third inning

Baseball Betting Lines

08/14/2008 - Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Murphy clubbed a two-run homer and added an RBI single, as the New York Mets -- aided by an eight-run third inning -- cruised to a 12-0 win in the second test of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Fernando Tatis homered and drove in two runs for the Mets, who have won two games in a row and five of seven overall. Carlos Beltran had a two-run double.

John Maine (10-7), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, allowed just one hit while walking four and striking out six over five innings to pick up the win. Maine was placed on the DL on August 3, retroactive to July 29, with a mild strain of his right rotator cuff.

"I felt better than I have the last couple of weeks," Maine said. "I went out there and did just enough. It's easier to pitch when you got that kind of lead because your not really concerned about what's going on, you just try to get outs and get back into that groove."

Brian Stokes tossed the final four innings to notch the first save of his career.

Lastings Milledge had one of the Nationals four hits and is now riding a career-high 14-game hitting streak.

Jason Bergmann (2-9) took the loss after he was tattooed for 10 runs -- six earned -- on eight hits in just three innings of work for Washington, losers of six straight. The right-hander also walked six and struck out one.

Jose Reyes singled to open the game, scampered to third on a base hit by Argenis Reyes and waltzed home on David Wright's sacrifice fly. The Mets stretched their advantage further in the second when Tatis led off the frame by depositing a Bergmann offering into the left field seats for his 10th home run of the season.

The Mets blew the game wide-open with an eight-run surge in the third. Wright reached on an infield single and Carlos Delgado walked to begin the inning. One out later, Murphy and Tatis ripped consecutive RBI singles. Bergmann then issued back-to-back walks to Brian Schneider and Maine to force in another run.

A fielding error by Cristian Guzman on a bouncer from Jose Reyes allowed Tatis and Schneider to cross the plate. After Argenis Reyes went down swinging, a generous Bergmann handed out free passes to Wright and Delgado, which allowed Maine to trot home, before Beltran's two-run double capped the barrage and gave the visitors a comfortable 10-run cushion.

Murphy's two-run homer in the fifth made it a 12-0 game.

Game Notes

The Mets matched their season-high for runs in an inning...Bergmann threw 51 pitches in the third...New York walked a season-high 11 times...Milledge tied Guzman for the longest hitting streak posted by a National this season...New York posted its eighth shutout of the year...Murphy is 14-for-30 (.467) with two home runs and eight RBI in 11 games since having his contract purchased from Triple-A New Orleans on August 2...To make room for Maine, the club optioned pitcher Carlos Muniz to New Orleans...New York's Oliver Perez (8-7) and Washington's Collin Balester (2-4) are scheduled to start the series finale on Thursday.