NEW YORK (AP) — Adam LaRoche and the Washington Nationals handed R.A. Dickey his first loss in three months, beating the sinking New York Mets 5-2 Tuesday night behind Gio Gonzalez’s seven crisp innings.
LaRoche hit a tiebreaking homer and Gonzalez (13-5) gave up only two singles in a rematch of All-Star pitchers, five days after New York hit him hard to back Dickey during his 13th win. This time, it went the other way.
Dickey (13-2) allowed five consecutive hits in the sixth, ending his 11-game winning streak, as the Mets lost their fifth straight and 11th in 12 games. Their lone victory since July 7 was Dickey’s 9-5 win over Gonzalez last Thursday in Washington.
In a mini shake-up before the game, New York demoted slumping right fielder Lucas Duda to Triple-A.
