WASHINGTON — Jason Bay drove in four runs, Angel Pagan drove in two more and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 9-5 on Sunday.
All-Star third baseman David Wright added two hits and scored two runs for the Mets, and Ike Davis added a two-run homer in the third inning.
Bay’s first four-RBI game with the Mets came on a two-run triple in the first that nearly cleared the right field fence and a two-run single in the fourth. Both hits came with two outs, and in all, New York scored six times with two outs. The Mets entered the game batting .213 with two outs, the lowest mark in the majors.
New York scored eight runs in the first four innings — seven against Craig Stammen (2-3). He’s the second Nationals pitcher in the last three games who couldn’t complete four innings.
Hisanori Takahashi (7-3) breezed through five innings, allowing two hits and tying a career high with seven strikeouts — including five consecutive in the third and fourth innings.
Takahashi allowed a three-run home run to Ryan Zimmerman, who was picked as one of the five candidates for the final spot on the NL roster for the All-Star game. Zimmerman, who had three hits and drove in four runs, was Washington’s representative last year.
The first six Nationals reached base in the sixth inning before Elmer Dessens struck out Adam Kennedy and got Wil Nieves to hit into a double play. Takahashi was responsible for three runs, five hits and two walks in five-plus innings.
Francisco Rodriguez, who lost Saturday’s game, came in with two runners on and none out and retired all three batters he faced to record his 20th save. He was the fifth Mets reliever.
Wright, who was picked to his fifth straight All-Star team, also had two stolen bases.
“It’s never gets old,” Wright said about making the team. “It’s more important that we’re right in the middle of this race.”
NOTES: New York SS Jose Reyes was selected to his third All-Star team and hopes to play. He missed his fifth straight game Sunday with lower back tightness. “It’s still a week away, so let’s see what happens. I think I’m going to play before that,” Reyes said. … Washington RHP Matt Capps was picked to his first All-Star game. He is 2-3 with a 3.19 ERA and 22 saves. He led the player balloting for relief pitchers. “It says that peers and people who see you and are around you all the time think enough of you to think you’re one of the best in the league at this time,” Capps said. … Mets RHP Mike Pelfrey was not chosen for the All-Star game despite a 10-2 record and a 2.93 ERA. “I would have liked to have gone and sit there and watched the Home Run Derby with my kid,” Pelfrey said. He is scheduled to pitch next Sunday, which would have eliminated him for playing in the game. … The Mets struck out 14 times, tying a season high.