WASHINGTON -- T.J. Rivera will not forget his first major league home run anytime soon.The rookie second baseman belted an 0-2 pitch off Mark Melancon into the left-field seats with one out in the 10th inning to lift the New York Mets to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.All I could do was go up there and try to have a good at-bat, Rivera said. He left something up and luckily I was able to put the barrel on it. That was pretty much my whole concept, my whole idea for that at-bat was really just compete because Id never faced him before.The Mets pulled within nine games of Washington in the NL East and remained a half-game ahead of St. Louis in the NL wild-card race. New York has won eight of its last 10 and is 17-6 since Aug. 20, gaining 3 1/2 games on Washington in that stretch.Jeurys Familia (3-3) earned the victory despite surrendering two runs in the ninth to blow his fourth save of the season. Left-hander Jerry Blevins struck out Daniel Murphy for the final out to earn his first save since 2012.I was trying to put it into play, said Murphy, who earlier had two hits and has hit safely against the Mets in 18 consecutive games this season. I was unsuccessful.Rivera, who won the Pacific Coast League batting title this season and entered the night with 41 career at-bats in the majors, probably would not have played if Wilmer Flores wasnt dealing with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins gave Rivera the start, and the move paid off even before the home run.Rivera had an RBI single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth, then took Melancon (2-2) deep after the Nationals rallied to force extra innings.Somebody has to surprise you, Collins said. Somebody you dont expect has to come through, and tonight it was T.J.Washington mustered only four hits in the first eight innings, but quickly got to Familia in the ninth. Murphy led off with an infield single, and third baseman Jose Reyes threw Bryce Harpers grounder into the seats. Anthony Rendon and Wilson Ramos then delivered consecutive singles to tie it.Familia then got Ryan Zimmerman to line out and pinch-hitter Clint Robinson to hit a soft liner to second that fooled pinch-runner Wilmer Difo, who was doubled off first.We have arguably the best closer in the game and they hit four groundballs and three of them didnt get out of the infield and the games tied, Collins said. He was frustrated by it and we certainly understand it, but we wouldnt be sitting where we are without him.After Jayson Werths two-out single off Fernando Salas in the 10th brought the winning run to the plate, Collins called on Blevins. He got two strikes on Murphy, who then worked a full count before missing a curveball to end it.Hes so good and an MVP candidate for a reason, Blevins said. You try to take advantage of some aggressiveness and get him to swing at your pitch.Noah Syndergaard struck out 10 over seven innings for the Mets, yielding just one run and four hits.When you run probably your best pitcher out, you have to win that game, Collins said. You have to win this game tonight with Noah on the mound. He pitched great.Nationals starter A.J. Cole allowed three runs and nine hits in five innings.SYNDERGAARDS MILESTONESyndergaards 10-strikeout outing of the season gave him 205 for the season. The 24-year-old is the fifth Met to record 200 strikeouts at that age or younger, joining Tom Seaver (1968 and 1969), Jon Matlack (1973), Dwight Gooden (1984-86) and Sid Fernandez (1986).ZEROES FOR RZEPCZYNSKIWashington reliever Marc Rzepczynski retired the lone Met he faced and has not allowed an earned run in nine appearances since being acquired from Oakland on Aug. 25. Rzepczynski has yielded four hits and three walks in 8 1/3 innings since joining the Nationals.TRAINERS ROOMMets: INF Flores (stiff neck) remained out of the lineup and was going to try to hit in the batting cage before the game. Flores has not played since Saturday. ... OF Justin Ruggiano, on the DL since Aug. 27, underwent left shoulder surgery. He hit .350 with two homers in 20 at-bats this season.Nationals: 1B Zimmerman, who did not start the last two times Syndergaard pitched against Washington, was in the lineup against the right-hander. Zimmerman entered the night 1 for 8 lifetime against Syndergaard and went 1 for 3 against him.UP NEXTMets: RHP Robert Gsellman (2-1, 3.92) faces Washington for the second time this month. The rookie allowed one run in six innings to earn the victory against the Nationals on Sept. 3.Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (14-8, 2.85), who has quality starts in seven of his last nine outings, starts the finale of the three-game series for Washington. 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Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). GLENDALE, Arizona -- Making his first career regular-season start, New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got off to a blazing start Sunday night, throwing for 75 yards on his first drive and capping it off with a 37-yard touchdown strike to receiver Chris Hogan down the left sideline.Garoppolo finished with 264 passing yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, leading the depleted Patriots to a 23-21 victory?over the Arizona Cardinals?at University of Phoenix Stadium.When you have confidence in your teammates and they have confidence in you, its easy to stay poised, Garoppolo said.Coach Bill Belichick wasnt ready to crown Garoppolo the next?Tom Brady, though.He made some good plays, Belichick said. It is not perfect, but he made a lot of good plays.Late in the fourth quarter, Garoppolo directed the Patriots from their own 19 to the Arizona 15 to set up Stephen Gostkowskis 23-yard field goal for what proved to be the game winner with 3:44 to play.After the first-quarter touchdown pass, Garoppolos emootion came out, as he jumped into the arms of his offensive linemen and pumped his fists.ddddddddddddaroppolo started in the place of Brady, who is serving a four-game suspension to open the season as part of the NFLs Deflategate punishment.As part of their game plan against the Cardinals, the Patriots got the ball out of Garoppolos hand quickly.According to ESPN Stats & Information, the last time Brady threw for 75 yards on an opening drive was Week 7 of the 2014 season against the New York Jets (76 yards).Not only were the Patriots without Brady, but they also didnt have tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive end Rob Ninkovich and two starters on the offensive line.Again, Garoppolo talked about that Patriot confidence.Whoever is out there, we have confidence in one another, he said. 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