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NEW YORK - We're in the fifth inning here at Citi Field, and so far, the Nationals and Mets collectively resemble a group of free-swinging sluggers. They've each hit two homers, struck out seven times and the Nationals still lead by a run.
Carlos Beltran hit his second homer of the game against Tom Gorzelanny in the bottom of the fourth inning: He's got the only two hits of the night against the left-hander, who's been sharp otherwise. Gorzelanny has struck out seven batters now, and other than Beltran's homers, he's allowed just two balls out of the infield. But neither of the right fielder's shots have been cheap, and the Nationals only have a one-run lead both because of their inability to get him out and to score runs other than on their own homers.
Ian Desmond led off the top of the fifth by squeezing a solo homer inside the left field foul pole, but the Nationals had a pair of other hits in the inning. Ryan Zimmerman was held up at third on Wilson Ramos' double to center when Angel Pagan made a sliding stop to keep the ball from rolling to the wall, and Rick Ankiel grounded out with runners on second and third. The Nationals are 1-for-4 with men in scoring position tonight, though their one hit was Danny Espinosa's three-run homer.
It's 4-3 Nationals headed into the sixth inning, and Gorzelanny has thrown 82 pitches. Manager Jim Riggleman said he wanted to have the left-hander throw no more than six innings tonight, so the sixth would probably be Gorzelanny's last - although Beltran is due up second in the inning.
