Mets fall on Harper's extra-inning walk-off

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bryce Harper's two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted Washington past the New York Mets 5-3 Thursday and gave the Nationals a season-high 4 1/2-game lead in the NL East.

Ian Desmond dumps the Gatorade jug over Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Mitchell Layton, Getty Images)

The Nationals take that margin over the reeling second-place Braves into a three-game series that opens Friday at Atlanta. The Braves were off Thursday after an 0-8 road trip against the Dodgers, Padres and Mariners.

Harper's shot to left on a 1-0 pitch off righty Carlos Torres (5-5) after Ian Desmond's leadoff walk was only the fourth homer of an injury-plagued season for the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year.

It was the second game-winning homer of Harper's career. The other came July 25, 2013, against Pittsburgh.

Filed Under: New York Mets