Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer, and Tommy Milone threw seven strong innings as the Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 5-3 in a Wednesday matinee at Nationals Park.

This game was much different from Tuesday's series opener, where the Nationals crushed the Mets 25-4. In fact, the second game of this brief series turned out to be a pitcher's duel between Milone (1-0) and Noah Syndergaard of New York.

Milone allowed one run on three hits in his seven innings. The left-hander struck out nine without a walk and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.

Ryan Madson took care of the eighth before Kelvin Herrera closed it for his 16th save.

Syndergaard came off the disabled list (hand, foot and mouth disease) for this start -- with relief pitcher Tim Peterson going back to Triple-A Las Vegas -- and settled down after struggling in the first few innings.

Syndergaard (6-2) gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked one as his streak of winning four consecutive decisions ended.

The Nationals got started early again on offense for the second straight game. Bryce Harper lined an RBI single that gave Washington a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Washington added two more in the third. Trea Turner led off with a double and scored on Rendon's two-run homer, which gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

Jose Reyes cut the lead to 3-1 with a homer to left field in the top of the fifth inning. He hit a fly ball that just snuck inside the foul pole and over the wall for New York's first run.

The switch-hitter belted that home run from the right side against Milone. Then, Reyes hit a solo shot batting left-handed when leading off the top of the eighth against the righty Madson, which made it 3-2.

But Reyes and first baseman Wilmer Flores both made errors in the bottom of the eighth that helped Washington score two insurance runs, on a Matt Adams fielder's choice followed by a Wilmer Difo sacrifice fly.

Flores hit a solo homer off Herrera in the ninth, but the Nationals held on and completed the sweep of the two-game series.

--Field Level Media