Nationals 13, Mets 2: Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, Kurt Suzuki and Ian Desmond homered to back seven scoreless innings from Gio Gonzalez as visiting Washington claimed the rubber game from New York.

Anthony Rendon drove in a pair and Denard Span and Roger Bernadina each added an RBI double for the Nationals, who moved back above .500 at 41-40. Gonzalez (5-3) did his part by striking out seven and surrendering three hits in his sixth straight quality start.

Mets rookie Zack Wheeler (1-1) suffered the brunt of the damage in his first career home start. The 23-year-old right-hander was charged with five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings to absorb his first loss.

Washington jumped on Wheeler with a four-run second inning, beginning when LaRoche led off by blasting a first-pitch fastball off the facing of the second deck. Desmond sent a double into right-center to plate another run and came home on Suzuki’s single before Span’s double capped the uprising.

Werth came up with two outs in the third and lined a fastball out to left-center to push the lead to 5-0. Suzuki’s two-run blast highlighted a six-run rally in the eighth and Desmond hit a two-run homer in the ninth as the Nationals put the game away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Wheeler has been knocked around for nine runs in 10 total innings over his last two starts after working six scoreless frames in his debut on June 18. … Rehabbing Washington RF Bryce Harper (knee) could be back with the club as soon as Monday, when the Nationals open a four-game series against Milwaukee. … New York C John Buck hit a two-run homer in the ninth to avoid the shutout.