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WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals took a chance signing Mat Latos to a minor league deal in June. The move paid off on a major league mound on Monday.In his first big league start since June 7, Latos threw 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts as the Nationals beat the New York Mets 8-1.Latos also hit a solo home run and Antony Rendon added a three-run shot as the Nationals increased their lead over the Mets to 10 games in the Nationals League East.I was pleased with the fastball command, said Latos. I was able to make some pitches when I needed to. I really had an out pitch where I could put away some hitters.Latos had a solid first start with the Nationals, but left the game with one out in the fifth inning with hamstring tightness. He will be reevaluated Tuesday.Reynaldo Lopez (3-3) was among three relievers to combine for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.Latos signed with Washington in June after the Chicago White Sox released him. He was added to the Nationals 40-man roster earlier this month.Ive told him its a chance to re-establish his value, said manager Dusty Baker, and get back on the board as a big-league pitcher and try to find a home and not go from team to team to team because he has good stuff.For the third straight outing Mets starter Rafael Montero (0-1) struggled with command. Montero walked three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded.Latos led off the second with a solo homer, before Daniel Murphy doubled and Harper was intentionally walked. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put Washington ahead 6-1.Montero allowed five hits and six runs in 1 2/3 innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Over his last three starts, Montero has allowed 14 walks in 11 innings.Manager Terry Collins said Montero will not start again in five days.Its pretty frustrating, because he does have good stuff, Collins said. You can see when hes actually throwing strikes, you know, theres not a lot of good swings. But he gets himself in trouble because he gets behind in counts.Jose Reyes hit a leadoff double in the first and later scored on a Yoenis Cespedes RBI sac fly to give New York a short-lived 1-0 lead.Ramos and Ryan Zimmerman added RBI singles for Washington.BACKMAN NOT RETURNING:Former Mets infielder Wally Backman will not return as the organizations Triple-A manager in 2017. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson told reporters that Backman has decided to move on, after working in New Yorks minor league system since 2010.STREAKING:Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy has a hit in all 17 games against the Mets this season. According to the ELIAS Sports Bureau, that ties the record for the longest hit streak against the Mets in one season (Rennie Stennett in 1974, Luis Castillo in 2002 and Dee Gordon in 2015).TRAINERS ROOMMets: Infielder Wilmer Flores missed his second straight game with a stiff neck. Manager Terry Collins said that Flores tried to hit Monday afternoon but his neck remained sore. Flores was injured Saturday after a home plate collision with Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski.Nationals: Manager Dusty Baker is optimistic that RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) will soon be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Ross, who last pitched for the Nationals on July 2, threw a simulated game Saturday after making two rehab starts with Triple-A Syracuse.UP NEXTMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard (13-8) looks to snap a personal three-game losing streak against the Nationals as he makes his fifth start of the season against the NL East leaders. Syndergaard threw seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits in a 4-1 loss to Washington Sept.2 at Citi Field.Nationals: RHP A.J. Cole (1-1) will make his fifth start of the season Tuesday and his second against the Mets. Coles best outing came Sept.2 in New York when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings for his first career Major League win.Jay Novacek Youth Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Tony Romo Jersey . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.cowboysrookieproshop.com/Cowboys-Tony-Dorsett-Jersey/ . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Charles Haley Jersey . -- Ken Appleby made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 2-0 win over the Belleville Bulls on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action. Michael Irvin Youth Jersey . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville.CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers are far more focused on how theyll finish. They are not complaining about their start, though.With Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson sitting courtside, LeBron James came up one rebound shy of a triple-double and Kyrie Irving scored 24 points to lead Cleveland to a 121-117 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night, making the Cavs 9-1 to match their best start after 10 games.James had 28 points and 14 assists as the Cavs improved to 2-0 this season against the Raptors, the team they beat in last seasons Eastern Conference finals and the one they could meet there again in 2017.The Cavs last went 9-1 in 1976-77.I dont really pay attention to the records, said James. But I do pay attention to the teams were playing, and what they bring to the table.The Raptors bring a lot, and are one of the only teams in the East capable of going to toe-to-toe with the defending NBA champions. However, Toronto came up short against Cleveland just as it did in last years playoffs.Im not encouraged by any loss, said Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who finished with 28 points and nine assists. We want to win every single game. Every time we touch the floor we want to win games.Channing Fryes 3-pointer from the top of the key with 59 seconds left put the Cavs up by one. Cleveland then buckled down on defense, holding the Raptors scoreless until letting Lowry make a layup with 2.8 seconds left.Kevin Love added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who have already had their share of tight games.Were one of the teams at the top thats going to get every teams best shot, Love said. Thats a team we have history with. Theyre well-coached. They know how to play and you saw them fight back tonight. Thats the kind of tension in playing those type of teams early thats going to be good for us. Weve had certain lapses in our first 10 games that we need to clean up. But were getting teams best shots home or away and well be a better team for it.DeMar DeRozan added 26 for the Raptors, who complained about fouls called against Lowry and Jonas Valanciunas in the final two minutes and a possible goaltending violation against the Cavs that wasnt called in the closing seconds. Toronto came in 5-0 in games where Lowry and DeRozan combined for more than 50 points.ddddddddddddLowry was also whistled for a technical in the final two minutes.The ball bounced of my foot, Lowry said. I wasnt trying to slam it. I dribbled the ball and it bounced of my foot. Its not like it went far. Coach (Dwane Casey) caught the ball. Whatever, keep my money.The Cavs made 13 3-pointers and have dropped at least 10 in all 10 games, extending their league record to start a season.TIP-INS:Raptors: With so many shooters, and James passing ability, the Cavs can stress defenses to the max. They have that extra point guard on the floor in LeBron, Casey said. He finds people the normal human being doesnt see.Cavaliers: Coach Tyronn Lue is hopeful J.R. Smith can return for Wednesdays game at Indiana. Smith needs three 3-pointers to pass Dirk Nowitzki for 15th place on the career list. ... G/F Mike Dunleavy is off to a rough start in his first season with Cleveland. Acquired from Chicago over the summer, Dunleavy is shooting just 29 percent (8 of28) on 3-pointers. Were not worried about Mike, Lue said. Hes going to find his way.ON THE BENCHThe Raptors played without starting forward DeMarre Carroll, who was given the night off to rest his surgically repaired knee. He also sat out Saturdays game against New York as he continues to recover from right knee surgery.Smith missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle, leaving Cleveland without one of its top outside threats and defenders.FINALS TESTOn consecutive nights, the Raptors are taking on the leagues top two teams in Cleveland and Golden State, last seasons finals participants.It should be fun, Casey said. It should be exciting for our players to go against the champion and the runner-up from last year. Its not going to make or break our season. It will help our young guys to get the experience against the two best teams and the two best players in the league this early in the season.Brooklyn is the only other team that will play the Cavs and Warriors on consecutive nights (Dec. 22-23).UP NEXTRaptors: Host Golden State on Wednesday.Cavaliers: Play at Indiana on Wednesday. ' ' '