WASHINGTON
--By the time the final out last night smacked into first baseman Carlos Delgado's glove and the New York Mets' 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals was secure, the crowd remaining among the thousands of empty seats at Nationals Park was speckled blue and orange.They stood and cheered their visiting Mets, delighted by their three-game sweep and push into first place. Meanwhile, most of Washington's fans chose not to suffer that indignity and marched solemnly out of the stadium, down Half Street toward the Metro and into the night.
Many of them filed out when the outcome was still in doubt, as if there was some sort of inevitability to Washington's seventh straight defeat. It's difficult to blame them, too, considering this loss followed a painfully familiar formula. The Nationals fell behind in the middle innings when the Mets got to starter Collin Balester, the offense proved too meek to overcome a five-run deficit and the bullpen failed to keep it close when Washington pulled within two in the seventh.
"I'd rather shut them up than have them chanting at the end of the game, but that's part of it," right fielder Austin Kearns said. "They love their team, and they're going to make it known wherever they are. Obviously, you hope you're on the other end of it where they're the ones that have got the muzzle on."
But for three straight nights here, the Mets' faithful hooted and hollered. They had many reasons to cheer, none bigger than New York's command last night of a half-game lead over Philadelphia in the National League East division standings.
Washington's fans, on the other hand, were drowned out all series, as their team swallowed another defeat and dropped to a season-high 34 games below .500.
Balester (2-5) cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit and walking only one. But he was victimized during his second pass through the Mets' lineup, when they mounted the type of rally that Washington simply hasn't been capable of for much of this season.
"They see me the first time through and they want to see what I have to offer," Balester said. "The second time through, I think they're a little more patient and know exactly what I'm going to do."
Nationals Notes:
The Nationals aren't close to signing right-hander Aaron Crow, their first-round draft pick, before tonight's midnight deadline. Crow on Wednesday night finalized a contract with the Fort Worth Cats, an independent team, and expects to begin playing for them as early as this weekend if he can't agree with the Nationals. He is seeking a major league contract worth a considerable amount more than the estimated Major League Baseball-recommended slot of $2.15 million.
If Crow does not sign, the Nationals will receive a compensatory pick in the first round of the 2009 draft. Bowden did not return a phone message.
Catcher Jesus Flores (stomach virus) and shortstop Cristian Guzman (left thumb) were late scratches from yesterday's starting lineup. Wil Nieves and Ronnie Belliard replaced them, respectively.
The Nationals reinstated infielder Aaron Boone (strained left calf) from the disabled list after a 30-game absence and placed shortstop Alberto Gonzalez (left hamstring strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to Aug. 5.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
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