WASHINGTON -- The Nationals took a commanding lead in the NL East this season with Dusty Baker steering the way. They moved one step closer to clinching a postseason berth without their manager in the dugout.Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings and Wilson Ramos homered in the seventh inning for the games only run as the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 1-0 on Wednesday.With one out in the seventh, Ramos hit his 21st home run deep over the center-field wall on the first pitch from Fernando Salas (0-1).It was a pitchers duel and Willie came through again, Roark said.Baker was not with the team in the series finale because of a death in the family. Bench coach Chris Speier managed team in Bakers absence.As we got into the ninth inning with that one-run lead, I got emotional, Speier said. I was saying some powerful prayers. This one is for Dusty.The Nationals have won five of six while lowering their magic number to seven.I think everybody is excited about it, being very close, Ramos said. I think thats part of why weve been playing very well ... You can tell were all tasting it a little bit.Roark (15-8) allowed three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks, one intentional.Reliever Blake Treinen pitched the eighth and Mark Melancon got the final three outs for his 42 save.New York lost two of three in Washington to finish 6-3 on its nine-game road trip. The Mets had won eight of 10 and were 17-6 over their previous 23 games.Entering Wednesday, the Mets were the second NL Wild Card, one-half game back of the Giants and one-half game ahead of the Cardinals. San Francisco and St. Louis also lost Wednesday.Weve got ourselves right where we need to be, Mets manager Terry Collins said. Yeah, todays tough when the other two teams lose. But theyre saying the same thing.Roark threw at least seven shutout innings for a major league-leading ninth time this season.Salas, who was 3-6 with the Angels, had not allowed a run in seven appearances since being acquired from Los Angeles on Aug. 31.Mets starter Robert Gsellman tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits with four walks.New York opened the game with back-to-back singles and loaded the bases with one out, but Roark escaped by striking out Jay Bruce and getting T.J. Rivera on a fly ball.We had a chance, Collins said. But, you know, hes good, and we didnt get it done.Bryce Harper struck out looking against reliever Josh Smoker with two runners on to end the sixth and finished 0 for 2 with a walk. He was also thrown out stealing to end the fourth as part of a double play.Washington won the season series 12-7.Daniel Murphys single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 12 games overall and meant at least one hit in all 19 games against his former team this season.TRAINERS ROOMMets: LHP Steven Matz (left shoulder tightness), on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 15, felt fine throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session for Single-A Port St. Lucie, Mets manager Terry Collins said. ... Noah Syndergaards turn in the rotation comes Sunday, but Collins said he prefer giving the ace extra rest. Syndergaard struck out 10 over seven innings in New Yorks 4-3 win in 10 innings Tuesday. ... INF Wilmer Flores has been sitting out because a right wrist injury sustained Saturday in Atlanta, not because of neck soreness. The neck is fine, Flores said. I couldve played with the neck. But its just my wrist.Nationals: Baker is expected to rejoin the team on Friday night for the series opener with the Atlanta Braves.MARK YOUR CALENDARMajor League Baseball released the 2017 schedule Wednesday. New York hosts Atlanta April 2. Washington opens April 3 at home against Miami.DRESSED FOR SUCCESSWashingtons veterans headed out on the road trip wearing showy golf attire, including Kangol hats and plaid sweaters. The rookies were given ladies tennis clothing as part of some light hazing.UP NEXTMets: New York returns home with RHP Bartolo Colon (13-7, 3.27 ERA) to open a three-game series Friday against Minnesota.Nationals: Max Scherzer (16-7, 2.78) aims for his fifth straight winning decision overall as Washington faces Atlanta on Friday. George McAfee Jersey . Andreas Johnson had a goal and two assists while Jacob de la Rose also scored for Sweden (2-0-0). Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game. Chase Daniel Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.custombearsjersey.com/custom-gary-fencik-jersey-large-826t.html . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Ken Margerum Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Joel Iyiegbuniwe Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. SAN DIEGO -- Tyler Chatwood was unsure if he was more pleased with his performance on the mound or at the plate.Chatwood had two important hits, including a two-run triple, while pitching the Colorado Rockies past the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Friday night.Charlie Blackmon homered in the second inning after Chatwoods leadoff single against Luis Perdomo. Chatwood also tripled in the seventh past a drawn-in outfield, extending the lead to 4-1.I havent been very good this year, so they were getting on me telling me I needed to bunt for a hit, Chatwood said. I told them I didnt need to, that I could still swing it. I got lucky tonight and found some holes.Making his second start since returning from a back injury, Chatwood (11-9) allowed one run and four hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one, improving to 3-0 against San Diego this season.I think I threw way more fastballs tonight than I normally do, and I throw a lot of fastballs, Chatwood said. I just felt good with it and I could locate it. It was fun to be a part of that tonight.The right-hander tossed eight shutout innings in his previous start at Petco Park in May.He has done a lot, especially on the road, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. He has been lights out. Felt like he had his good two-seamer. He mixed in some breaking balls, not too many, but enough to keep them guessing.Jake McGee and Boonne Logan had scoreless outings in relief.dddddddddddd Adam Ottavino worked the ninth for his third save.Perdomo (7-9) permitted four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked four, but lamented the hits by Chatwood most.Hes the guy who did the most damage against me in the game, so I dont feel good about that, Perdomo said.Alex Dickerson homered in the second, San Diegos only hit off Chatwood until the fifth.Weve had trouble with him before, Padres manager Andy Green said. He executed his number of really good pitches he threw in crucial situations.DJ LeMahieu extended his career-best hitting streak to 26 games with a single in the third for Colorado.We played well tonight, Weiss said. We had some good hits, timely hits. It was a good night.TRAINERS ROOMPadres C Derek Norris had his right arm examined after getting hit by a foul ball Thursday night, but X-rays were negative. Norris was available off the bench.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jon Gray (9-7, 4.51 ERA) looks to rebound after allowing five runs over seven innings at Arizona in his last start. He is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts at Petco Park.Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-10, 4.99) has thrown a career-high 104 2/3 innings going into Saturdays outing. ' ' '
