Murphy homers again vs Mets, leads Nationals to 3-2 win

NEW YORK (AP) Daniel Murphy kept answering the Citi Field boos with booms, hitting his seventh home run this year against the team that let him go last winter and leading the Washington Nationals over the New York Mets 3-2 Sunday.

Murphy tops the majors with a .348 batting average at the All-Star break. He homered three times and drove in 10 runs as the NL East leaders took three of four in this series, opening a six-game edge over New York.

The Nationals posted their 54th win, matching the 1994 Montreal Expos for the most in franchise history before the break.

Jose Reyes hit two home runs for the Mets.

Gio Gonzalez (5-8) pitched into the sixth as the Nats beat the Mets for the ninth time in 13 matchups this year. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.

Steven Matz (7-5) fell to 0-4 in his last eight starts.