WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Jonathon Niese tossed 7 1/3 shutout innings and Ike Davis backed him with a two-run homer Saturday in the New York Mets' 2-0 blanking of Washington.
Niese (10-6) didn't allow a runner past second base after the first inning, scattering five hits. The left-hander yielded no walks and struck out seven in the gem, throwing 70 of his 106 pitches for strikes.
Jon Rauch got the final two outs of the eighth inning and Frank Francisco picked up his 20th save with a 1-2-3 ninth as the Mets evened their three-game series.
Davis supplied all the offense New York would need on a seventh-inning blast with David Wright aboard.
Edwin Jackson (7-8) absorbed the hard-luck loss despite fanning 11. He surrendered a pair of runs on just two hits while walking one for the National League East-leading Nationals.
