Nationals' Harper: 'I don't give a crap what the Mets are doing'

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper wasn't particularly interested in discussing the division-leading New York Mets after his team dropped a fourth straight game Monday, a 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, to fall to second place in the National League East.

"I don't give a crap what the Mets are doing," Harper told James Wagner of the Washington Post. "Or Dodgers or Giants or Texas or anybody. I know what kind of team we are and our capability going into every single game and having the confidence to win ballgames and playing guys like this team over here that have a losing record."

For the Nationals, the putative division favorite who have scuffled offensively in recent weeks, Monday's series opener didn't exorcise any demons at the plate. The Nationals, who own a .288 on-base percentage over the last two weeks, were held scoreless through eight innings before a futile four-run outburst in the ninth. Harper, perhaps the favorite for the National League MVP award, recorded a single in four plate appearances, his average dropping to .330 in the process.

Though the Nationals, hampered by injuries, have struggled all summer to distinguish themselves in their division, Harper suggested after Monday's loss that dropping games to seemingly inferior teams is no longer acceptable.

"We've got to win these ballgames," Harper said. "We've got to scratch and fight and claw and try to win these games. Hopefully we can do that the rest of the time we're here.

Meanwhile, in south Florida, the Mets pulverized the Miami Marlins on Monday evening, improving to 55-50 with a 12-1 victory at Marlins Park.