Noah Syndergaard wriggled in and out of trouble over five innings and earned the win in his first start in seven weeks Friday night, when he helped his cause with an RBI single in the second inning of the New York Mets' 4-2 victory over the visiting Washington Nationals at Citi Field.

With the win in the second game of the four-game series, the Mets improved to 11-27 since June 1. The Nationals have lost 12 of 18.

Syndergaard (5-1), who was sidelined with a strained ligament in his right index finger suffered in his previous start May 25, allowed one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out three. The Nationals put the leadoff runner on in each inning against Syndergaard, but he held Washington to just three hits in 17 plate appearances with runners on base.

Seth Lugo tossed two scoreless innings before Robert Gsellman allowed one run over two innings to earn his fourth save.

The Mets provided Syndergaard all the support he'd need by scoring three times in the first off Tanner Roark (3-12). Roark gave up three straight singles to start the game, the last of which, by Jose Bautista, produced New York's first run. Wilmer Flores lofted a sacrifice fly and Devin Mesoraco delivered a two-out RBI single for the early 3-0 lead.

Amed Rosario tripled leading off the second and scored on Syndergaard's hit.

Brandon Nimmo finished with three hits while Rosario had two hits and a stolen base.

Roark scored the Nationals' first run in the third, when he hit a leadoff triple -- his bloop landed just fair down the right field line and skipped past Nimmo instead of careening into the seats -- and scored on Wilmer Difo's double.

Roark's triple was the first by a Nationals pitcher since Joel Hanrahan tripled against the Mets on July 28, 2007.

Matt Adams hit his 14th homer with one out in the eighth off Gsellman, who retired the final five batters he faced.

Adam Eaton had two hits and a stolen base for the Nationals.

Roark, who leads the majors in losses, allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.

--Field Level Media