MLB: Washington 6, New York Mets 4

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A grand slam homer in the fourth by Michael Morse put Washington in front Friday and the Nationals held on to defeat the New York Mets 6-4.

Washington improved baseball's best record by moving 29 games over .500 with 43 games remaining in the regular season.

The Nationals have not had a winning record since moving to Washington from Montreal in 2005 and they need only eight more victories to achieve that feat this year.

New York took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run single by Daniel Murphy, but Washington struck in a big way in the fourth to go in front for good.

Consecutive singles by Jayson Werth, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman loaded the bases with nobody out and Morse then hit a 1-1 offering from Johan Santana over the wall in right for his 12th homer.

Harper added a two-run shot in the fifth to give the Nationals a 6-2 cushion.

The win went to Ross Detwiler (7-5), who gave up three runs on six hits in six innings. Tyler Clippard put two runners on in the ninth before escaping with his 26th save.

Santana (6-9) allowed all six Washington runs on seven hits in five frames.