Williams Makes Case To Stay in Nats' Rotation

And with that, Williams took a no-hitter into the fifth.

Nothing Williams had done up until last night suggested he was capable of such a performance. In his previous start, he was roughed up by Florida, surrendering nine earned runs on nine hits in six innings in the Nationals' 12-6 loss. He also gave up three home runs in that game.

Williams's no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth inning by Beltran, who smacked a one-out single to center field. Carlos Delgado, however, hit into a double play to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Williams also got it done with his bat. He launched a Glavine fastball off the wall in left field. But the pitcher was held to a single because he was slow to leave the batter's box, preferring instead to watch the ball sail deep into the night. It missed clearing the outfield fence by about two feet.

Despite his base running blunder, the Nationals managed to take a 1-0 lead. The next batter, shortstop Felipe Lopez, reached on a controversial fielder's choice. Mets Manager Willie Randolph was ejected for arguing the call with first base umpire Tony Randazzo. Three pitches later, second baseman Ronnie Belliard doubled home Lopez with the game's first run.

After Wright walked to lead off the seventh inning, Williams was replaced by Jesus Colome, who promptly gave up a run. Colome got Alou to ground into a double play, but Green singled and eventually reached third on an error by Zimmerman. Green then scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 1.

Belliard's second double of the night, off Aaron Heilman in the eighth, scored Jesus Flores from third base and put the Nationals ahead 2-1.

Note: Mets second baseman Jose Valentin left the game after the fourth inning with discomfort in his right knee. He was replaced by Damion Easley.