MLB: Washington 9, N.Y. Mets 6

NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Ryan Church drove in four runs Wednesday, as the Washington Nationals again clipped the struggling NL East-leading New York Mets 9-6.

Church's 15th homer this season was a two-run blast in the fourth, and he hit a single and added an RBI double in the ninth.

Wily Mo Pena had two hits and two RBI, while three others had one RBI as the Nationals beat New York for the second straight night.

The winner was Joel Hanrahan (5-3) and Luis Ayala recorded his first save.

New York’s Carlos Beltran hit two homers good for three RBI.

Moises Alou had two hits, running his hitting streak to 30 games in a row, and two RBI.

Luis Castillo had one RBI and David Wright hit a first-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 13 games for the Mets, whose lead over Philadelphia in the division fell to 1 1/2 games.

The losing pitcher was Joe Smith (3-2).