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NEW YORK -- That comfortable cushion Washington has built in the NL East sure came in handy Saturday night.Curtis Granderson and James Loney delivered big hits to back Robert Gsellman, and the banged-up New York Mets got another gritty start from an unheralded rookie in their 3-1 victory over the Nationals.It was kind of a nothing game, Washington manager Dusty Baker said after his team went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. We didnt come through all game.Anthony Rendon hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the first, but that was it at the plate. Speedy leadoff man Trea Turner went 0 for 5, ending his on-base streak at 21 games hours after he was selected NL rookie of the month for August.Danny Espinosa struck out all four times up for the Nationals, who still have a 9 1/2-game lead over the second-place Mets.Hes swinging too hard when we need to put the ball in play, Baker said. Thats something that were addressing and hes got to keep working on it.Tanner Roark (14-8) allowed two runs over five innings and walked a career-high four -- one intentional. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth, but the Nationals never broke through and had their four-game winning streak snapped.Washington dropped to 15-5 in his last 20 starts dating to May 20.Not a good outing on my part, Roark said. There was nothing effective in the strike zone.Gsellman (2-1) pitched out of trouble for six innings, and inexperienced center fielder Michael Conforto made a diving catch that thwarted a potential Nationals rally in the seventh.New York rebounded from consecutive losses and won for the 10th time in 14 games, moving within one game of St. Louis for the final NL playoff berth.Were right there, Loney said. This is what we play for.Making his third major league appearance and second start, the 23-year-old Gsellman was pumped up after wriggling out of a jam in the sixth. With runners at second and third, he fanned Espinosa and got pinch hitter Ben Revere on an inning-ending groundout.Addison Reed tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and Jeurys Familia whiffed two in a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 45th save in 48 tries, extending his franchise record.Gsellman earned his first career win as a starter.New York had lost four straight and seven of eight to the Nationals.On fireworks night at Citi Field, Granderson hit a two-run single in the third on the first pitch after Yoenis Cespedes was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs.I didnt want to walk him at all, Roark said. I dont like to intentionally walk anybody. I like to challenge them. It is what it is.Granderson had been 0 for 22 with runners in scoring position dating to July 24, and 1 for 31 since July 7.Loney, also struggling in the clutch, added an RBI double with two outs in the sixth off Matt Belisle. Travis dArnaud scored easily from first base when Bryce Harper overthrew two cutoff men from the right-field corner.With his first extra-base hit since Aug. 1, Loney ended slumps of 0 for 14 and 1 for 20.LONG ROAD BACKSean Burnett retired Granderson on a line drive to center to end the seventh, the left-handers first major league appearance since May 27, 2014, with the Los Angeles Angels at Seattle. Burnett had Tommy John surgery in June 2014.The long run into the mound, a lot of thoughts went through my mind, he said. Its been a long road and been some tough times and tough days when you question if my arm was ever going to feel good again, am I going to get back to this level, am I going to be able to compete at this level? So, its just great to be back.Baker said it was very nice to see Burnett out there.We have all the faith in Sean Burnett, `cause Ive see what Sean Burnett can do. He throws strikes, the manager explained. The guys unfazed with all the pressure. I think Sean Burnetts going to come up big down the stretch.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: Max Scherzers next start was pushed back a day to give the ace right-hander extra rest. Scherzer initially was lined up to pitch the series finale Sunday night. Instead, the Nationals plan to recall rookie right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse to make that start -- weather permitting. Scherzer is scheduled to go Monday against last-place Atlanta.NEMESISDaniel Murphy joined Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn as the only players to hit safely in each of their first 15 games against the Mets. Murphy is batting .408 with seven homers and 21 RBI versus New York.UP NEXTNationals: The 22-year-old Lopez made his major league debut July 19 and is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA in five starts for Washington.Mets: Rookie RHP Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.60 ERA) makes his fourth career start and tries to win his third in a row. Bryan Rekar Jersey . 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The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. Bruce Ruffin Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. PITTSBURGH -- Dan Straily knew before he went to work on Tuesday night his next start wouldnt be in the majors. The All-Star break and a quirk in the Oakland Athletics schedule means the AL West leaders wont need a fifth starter for a couple of weeks. Before hopping a plane for Triple-A Sacramento, the rookie right-hander left a little something to remember him by. Straily (6-2) allowed two hits over 6 1-3 innings, striking out seven and walking three to win his fifth straight decision. "I could have thrown a perfect game and I was going to get optioned out," Straily said. "Its nothing personal. Its the situation were in. It is what it is." The As called up right-hander Sonny Gray to take Strailys spot, hoping the 2011 first-round draft pick can get some work out of the bullpen over the next couple of weeks. That apparently wasnt an option for Straily. Oakland manager Bob Melvin called having someone at the back end of the rotation with Strailys talent a "luxury," one the team can apparently live without until later in the month. "Thats the life of a fifth starter," Melvin said. Even if Straily isnt exactly pitching like one at the moment for the As, who have won 10 of 13. He tossed seven shutout innings in a victory over the Chicago Cubs in his previous start, then backed it up by silencing the quickly cooling Pirates. Straily credited a much-improved curveball for keeping the Pirates off balance. "(Pitching coach) Curt (Young) said in passing in my last bullpen that he thought my curve was good and that I should use it more in games," Straily said. "Its something Ive worked on a lot and youre always trying to get better, but last year I put the curve on the shelf because I was working on the changeup so much." Straily threw just one changeup against the Pirates, and Pedro Alvarez sent it 448 feet to centre in the second for Pittsburghs lone run. "I didnt throw another one after that, so the curveball gave me a third option," Straily said. Grant Balfour worked the ninth to remain perfect in 24 save chances this season. Brandon Moss slammed a two-run homer in the fourth off Gerrit Cole (4-2) to supply all the offence Oakland required. Moss spent parts of three seasons with the Pirates between 2008-10, with Pittsburgh hoping his raw left-handed power would help him pound balls off -- or over -- the Clemente Wall in right field. It never really happened. Moss hit all of 13 homers in 195 games for the Pirates before eventually making his way to Oakland, wwhere hes become a key cog in one of baseballs biggest surprises.dddddddddddd Moss provided a glimpse of what could have been in Pittsburgh in the fourth when Cole wobbled for the briefest of moments. The right-hander had retired nine straight when John Jaso doubled with two outs. Moss followed with his 16th home run of the season, though he hardly viewed it as some sort of revenge. "I had a lot of opportunities here and I didnt do anything with them," Moss said. "Its my fault that Im not here anymore." Pittsburgh had hoped to break loose against Straily, who has struggled starting on four days rest during his brief major league career. Straily came in 0-3 with a 7.16 ERA when not given at least five days between starts. Yet he had no issues dealing with Pittsburghs suddenly punchless offence. The Pirates have scored just six runs during a 2-6 slump that has dropped them behind first-place St. Louis in the heated NL Central race. Alvarez provided Pittsburghs lone run with his drive to the bushes in centre leading off the second. The home run made him the third player in team history to reach 23 homers before the All-Star break, joining Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell. The Pirates didnt get a runner to third base over the final six innings. Their best chance to tie the game came in the seventh when Alvarez led off with a walk and moved to second on Russell Martins sacrifice bunt. Oakland reliever Sean Doolittle replaced Straily and struck out pinch-hitter Gaby Sanchez before getting Jordy Mercer to pop up to first. Jose Tabata led off the ninth with a single off Balfour, but Andrew McCutchen and Alvarez struck out before Martin grounded out meekly to first as Balfour extended his club record for consecutive save chances converted to 42, dating to last season. NOTES: The start of the game was pushed back due to the potential of inclement weather. While lightning flashed several times during the 1:42 delay, it never actually rained. ... Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes was selected to the American League team for the Home Run Derby next Monday night in New York. Cespedes, who has 15 home runs this season, is the first As player to be chosen for the Home Run Derby since Jason Giambi in 2001. ... McCutchen went 0 for 3, ending his 10-game hitting streak. ... The series wraps up Wednesday when Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (8-3, 2.20 ERA) faces Oakland LHP Tommy Milone (8-7, 4.11). ... Hall of Fame golfer Arnold Palmer, who grew up in Latrobe, about 45 minutes east of Pittsburgh, was in attendance. ' ' '