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WASHINGTON -- Ever since he left them, Daniel Murphy has been making life miserable for the Mets.Murphy homered twice, tormenting his former team yet again, and the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep of New York with 4-2 victory Wednesday night.Max Scherzer (9-5) cruised against New Yorks sputtering offense, allowing two hits with 10 strikeouts over 7 1/3 shutout innings. He retired 18 in a row before Brandon Nimmos single in the eighth and finished with at least 10 strikeouts for the fourth straight outing.The sweep dropped New York six games behind first-place Washington in the NL East.Murphy homered off Logan Verrett (3-5) in the second for a 1-0 lead and golfed a two-run drive in the eighth against reliever Sean Gilmartin.Rather than acknowledge any extra motivation against the Mets, Murphy simply described them as division opponents.Its just obvious he wants to beat them up, Scherzer said.Murphy is batting .428 (15 for 35) with four home runs and 11 RBI against New York. He signed a $37.5 million, three-year contract with Washington last offseason after spending his first seven seasons with the Mets and powering them into the World Series last year with a record-setting postseason.He is very familiar with the Mets, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. He has no ill feelings against the Mets, but he certainly wants to beat them.The second baseman matched his career high with 14 homers and helped Washington win its fourth in a row.I dont know, Murphy said about his power surge. They just keep going over the fence.The Mets went 23 innings without scoring before James Loneys two-run homer in the ninth off Shawn Kelley.Were just not even giving ourselves chances, manager Terry Collins said.Kelley got four outs for his fourth save. He threw a called third strike past Nimmo with a runner on second to end it.New York lost 5-0 in Tuesdays rain-interrupted matchup after dropping the series opener 11-4.I know its only June, but anytime you can sweep your divisional opponents, thats huge, Scherzer said.Scherzer walked Kelly Johnson in the second, the same inning in which Asdrubal Cabrera registered New Yorks first hit. The Mets didnt reach base again until Nimmos hit on the final pitch from Scherzer, who left to a standing ovation.Pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson singled off reliever Oliver Perez, giving New York two baserunners. Kelley, Washingtons fourth pitcher of the inning, struck out Alejandro De Aza with the potential tying runs in scoring position to end the eighth.Making a spot start because Steven Matz was pushed back a day, Verrett lost his fifth straight decision. He allowed two runs and four hits, including Murphys long drive that landed in the second deck, with four walks over five innings.Jayson Werths sacrifice fly scored Danny Espinosa for a 2-0 lead in the third.Yoenis Cespedes struck out three times against Scherzer, who lost 2-0 at the Mets on May 17 despite compiling 10 strikeouts.Obviously, you wanted to come in here and have different results, Granderson said. Youve still got a lot games to play plus a lot of games against this team and everybody else in our division.MAD MAXScherzer struck out at least 10 for the seventh time this year and the 43rd time in his career. He went 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA in six June starts.THE GRANDY MAN CANGranderson was a late scratch from the starting lineup one day after being removed from Tuesdays game with right calf tightness.TRAINERS ROOMMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard, who struggled in Mondays opener, confirmed he has a bone spur in his elbow. He called it pretty insignificant.Nationals: RHP Jonathan Papelbon (right intercostal strain) threw around 30 pitches during a simulated game at Nationals Park. The closer will continue his rehab at Double-A Harrisburg, where hes expected to pitch in back-to-back games starting Friday.UP NEXTMets: Matz (7-3, 3.29 ERA) faces Chicago Cubs RHP John Lackey (7-4, 3.29) on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Citi Field, a rematch of last years NL Championship Series that the Mets won in a four-game sweep.Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-7, 4.73 ERA) tries to snap a six-game losing streak. LHP Brandon Finnegan (3-6, 3.83) opens the four-game series for visiting Cincinnati. Amari Cooper Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Jaylon Smith Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tony-Pollard-Inverted-Jersey/ . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Trysten Hill Youth Jersey . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Demarcus Lawrence Youth Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July.Sir Ian Bothams grandson Jim has been selected in the Wales U18 rugby union squad. The flanker was born in Wales when his father Liam - who also played cricket for Hampshire - was playing rugby for Cardiff.He could make his debut in Friday afternoons match against Scotland.The match takes place at Swanseas St Helens ground - a venue Sky Sports expert Sir Ian played cricket at for Somerset.dddddddddddd Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results ' ' '