WASHINGTON -- T.J. Rivera will not forget his first major league home run anytime soon.The rookie second baseman belted an 0-2 pitch off Mark Melancon into the left-field seats with one out in the 10th inning to lift the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.All I could do was go up there and try to have a good at-bat, Rivera said. He left something up and luckily I was able to put the barrel on it. That was pretty much my whole concept, my whole idea for that at-bat was really just compete because Id never faced him before.The Mets pulled within nine games of Washington in the NL East and remained a half-game ahead of St. Louis in the NL wild-card race. New York has won eight of its last 10 and is 17-6 since Aug. 20, gaining 3 1/2 games on Washington in that stretch.Jeurys Familia (3-3) earned the victory despite surrendering two runs in the ninth to blow his fourth save of the season. Left-hander Jerry Blevins struck out Daniel Murphy for the final out to earn his first save since 2012.I was trying to put it into play, said Murphy, who earlier had two hits and has hit safely against the Mets in 18 consecutive games this season. I was unsuccessful.Rivera, who won the Pacific Coast League batting title this season and entered the night with 41 career at-bats in the majors, probably would not have played if Wilmer Flores wasnt dealing with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins gave Rivera the start, and the move paid off even before the home run.Rivera had an RBI single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth, then took Melancon (2-2) deep after the Nationals rallied to force extra innings.Somebody has to surprise you, Collins said. Somebody you dont expect has to come through, and tonight it was T.J.Washington mustered only four hits in the first eight innings, but quickly got to Familia in the ninth. Murphy led off with an infield single, and third baseman Jose Reyes threw Bryce Harpers grounder into the seats. Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos then delivered consecutive singles to tie it.Familia then got Ryan Zimmerman to line out and pinch-hitter Clint Robinson to hit a soft liner to second that fooled pinch-runner Wilmer Difo, who was doubled off first.We have arguably the best closer in the game and they hit four groundballs and three of them didnt get out of the infield and the games tied, Collins said. He was frustrated by it and we certainly understand it, but we wouldnt be sitting where we are without him.After Jayson Werths two-out single off Fernando Salas in the 10th brought the winning run to the plate, Collins called on Blevins. He got two strikes on Murphy, who then worked a full count before missing a curveball to end it.Hes so good and an MVP candidate for a reason, Blevins said. You try to take advantage of some aggressiveness and get him to swing at your pitch.Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 over seven innings for the Mets, yielding just one run and four hits.When you run probably your best pitcher out, you have to win that game, Collins said. You have to win this game tonight with Noah on the mound. He pitched great.Nationals starter A.J. Cole allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings.SYNDERGAARDS MILESTONESyndergaards 10-strikeout outing of the season gave him 205 for the season. The 24-year-old is the fifth Met to record 200 strikeouts at that age or younger, joining Tom Seaver (1968 and 1969), Jon Matlack (1973), Dwight Gooden (1984-86) and Sid Fernandez (1986).ZEROES FOR RZEPCZYNSKIWashington reliever Marc Rzepczynski retired the lone Met he faced and has not allowed an earned run in nine appearances since being acquired from Oakland on Aug. 25. Rzepczynski has yielded four hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings since joining the Nationals.TRAINERS ROOMMets: INF Flores (stiff neck) remained out of the lineup and was going to try to hit in the batting cage before the game. Flores has not played since Saturday. ... OF Justin Ruggiano, on the DL since Aug. 27, underwent left shoulder surgery. He hit .350 with two homers in 20 at-bats this season.Nationals: 1B Zimmerman, who did not start the last two times Syndergaard pitched against Washington, was in the lineup against the right-hander. Zimmerman entered the night 1 for 8 lifetime against Syndergaard and went 1 for 3 against him.UP NEXTMets: RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1, 3.92) faces Washington for the second time this month. The rookie allowed one run in six innings to earn the victory against the Nationals on Sept. 3.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.85), who has quality starts in seven of his last nine outings, starts the finale of the three-game series for Washington. 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The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center on Sunday, saying its operations must improve or a six-month ban on the facilitys accreditation will be imposed. Nike NFL Jerseys Outlet . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. OXFORD, Ohio -- Drew McDonald scored 20 of his career-high 28 points in the second half, leading a late charge to help Northern Kentucky beat Delaware 74-53 on Saturday.Northern Kentucky (2-2) scored just 20 points and trailed by one at halftime. But the Norse got 14 points in the first 3:43 after the break, capped by McDonalds 3-pointer to give Northern Kentucky a 34-22 lead with 16:17 remaining.Delaware (3-2) pulled to 41-38 midway through the half, but 3-pointers from Cole Murray and Lavone Holland II pushed thhe lead to nine, and the Blue Hens never seriously threatened from then on.dddddddddddd.Holland II had 12 points, four assists and three steals. McDonald tied a career high with 13 rebounds. The Norse shot 56.7 percent in the second half (17 for 30) after a 25 percent mark in the first.Cazmon Hayes and Ryan Daly each had 13 points for Delaware. Hayes added eight boards and three blocks. ' ' '