MLB: N.Y. Mets 7, Washington 4

NEW YORK, May 27 (UPI) -- Daniel Murphy drove in five runs Wednesday, two of them on a sixth-inning homer, pacing the New York Mets to a 7-4 decision over Washington.

Murphy got the start at first base in place of the injured Carlos Delgado after struggling early in the season while playing in the outfield.

He had only 12 RBI for the season coming into the game, but he singled in a run in the third, broke up a tie game with his homer in the sixth and added a two-run double in the seventh that made it 7-3.

Johan Santana (7-2) got the win, his sixth in his last seven decisions. He allowed three runs on three hits while striking out 11 over six innings. He also walked six batters. Two of the Washington runs off Santana came on Adam Dunn's fourth-inning homer.

The Mets won their third straight and the Nationals have dropped three in a row while falling 20 games below the .500 mark.

Losing pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (2-2) threw 100 pitches in five innings. He surrendered five runs on eight hits.