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Nationals slam way past Mets

WASHINGTON -- The Nationals relied on two big swings for their 30th comeback win in Friday's series opener with the Mets.

Michael Morse hit a grand slam, and Bryce Harper added a two-run homer as the Washington Nationals scored a 6-4 victory over the New York Mets Friday night. Those two homers gave Washington (74-45) all of its offense in a game where the Nationals fell behind early.

The Mets (56-63) jumped on starter Ross Detwiler (7-5) for two runs in the first inning. David Wright singled, followed by a Scott Hairston double to put runners at second and third. Daniel Murphy's single scored both for the quick 2-0 lead.

But in the fourth, the Nationals loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Jayson Werth, Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, their first hits of the game.

Morse followed with an opposite-field grand slam of New York starter Johan Santana (6-9) for a 4-2 lead. That was the Nationals' first grand slam since Aug. 19, 2011, when Zimmerman got one versus the Phillies.

Manager Davey Johnson said he saw Morse start to really hit the fastball better on the last road trip at Houston and it carried over to Friday.

"He got jammed on a pitch before that, broke his bat, and he came back and threw him a ball over the plate and he crushed it," Johnson said. "He has got tremendous power."

Harper added to the lead with a two-run shot in the fifth, his 11th homer of the season. With two outs, Werth singled off Santana. Harper then followed with his blast to right-center for a 6-2 lead.

"I was trying to go up there and just try to work the middle of the field and really try to hit the ball the other way," Harper said.

Mets manager Terry Collins said Santana did not miss by much on those two pitches.

"The ball to Morse he left out up over the plate," Collins said. "The ball to Harper was down and in when he was trying to go away. You got to hit your spots. I think he is getting better and better at it. Hopefully, the next time out, he is better."

That was Harper's first homer since Aug. 4. The rookie's been struggling in the second half of the season since he nearly made the All-Star team.

The Mets made it close with single runs in the sixth and seventh. After Hairston doubled for the third time, matching a Mets' team record, he scored on a Ronny Cedeno ground out.

Newly-acquired catcher Kelly Shoppach blasted a solo homer off Craig Stammen to make it 6-4 in the seventh.

Detwiler lasted six innings and allowed three runs on six hits, and half of those hits came in the first.

Tyler Clippard came on in the ninth to record his 26th save.

Santana said those two homers are indicative of what he has gone wrong the last few starts.

"It came down to a couple of pitches," he said. "Every time I make mistakes that is what happens."

Santana has now allowed six or more runs in five consecutive starts and has not recorded a victory since June 30.

NOTES: The Nationals activated starting shortstop Ian Desmond (left oblique strain) from the disabled list before the game. Desmond had missed 25 games, but the Nationals still went 19-6. Shortstop Cesar Izturis was designated for assignment but manager Davey Johnson indicated Izturis was a "valuable asset and we want to keep him" if he clears waivers. ... Steve Lombardozzi was not in the starting lineup for the first time since July 7, due in large part to Desmond's return. Johnson said he will still get Lombardozzi, who had 17 hits on the 10-game road trip, plenty of games down the stretch at third base, second base and left field. ... Collins had promised in Cincinnati to give David Wright and Ike Davis some time off during the weekend series in D.C. Friday night, Collins sat Davis against the left-hander Detwiler. ... Left fielder Jason Bay was batting seventh for the second straight game. Bay has not had an extra-base hit since July 18. ... The Nationals have 26 of their final 43 games at home.