New York Mets vs Washington Nationals Box Score on Sep 21, 2018

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom continued his record-breaking season -- and his push for the National League Cy Young Award -- by beating the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Friday night at Nationals Park.

DeGrom (9-9) yielded one run on three hits and one walk, while striking out eight over seven innings. The right-hander lowered his MLB-leading ERA to 1.77 and extended his major league single-season record of allowing three runs or fewer to 28 consecutive starts.

DeGrom's 259 strikeouts rank second in the NL and fourth in the majors. Nationals ace Max Scherzer (17-7, 2.57 ERA) is the MLB leader with 290.

With one more expected start, deGrom will look to earn a 10th victory and finish above .500. The fewest wins by any starting pitcher to win the Cy Young is 14 by Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

New York (72-82) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Amed Rosario doubled on the first pitch and scored three batters later on a Jay Bruce single.

Washington tied the score at 1 in the bottom of the second when Anthony Rendon scored on Ryan Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field.

The Mets regained the lead at 4-1 in the top of the third on back-to-back one-out doubles by Michael Conforto and Bruce, a two-out single by Dominic Smith and a two-out double by Devin Mesoraco (3-for-3, two doubles with a walk).

The Nationals threatened in the bottom of the ninth against Mets closer Robert Gsellman. Trea Turner led off with a double, and after Bryce Harper flew out to the warning track in left field, Rendon scored Turner with an RBI single to center.

But Gsellman notched his 12th save by striking out Juan Soto and inducing Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to right field for the final outs.

Nationals starter Joe Ross (0-1) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and one walk, while striking out three over six innings.

Harper went 0-for-4, striking out twice against deGrom.

With the Braves beating the second-place Phillies later Friday night, the Nationals (77-77) were eliminated from National League East contention.

--Field Level Media