Nationals' Werth: 'It's our division to lose'

The Washington Nationals aren't wavering in confidence despite a recent run of poor play.

Having conceded the division lead for the first time in more than a month to the hard-charging New York Mets on Sunday, the Nationals remain a confident bunch.

"I think it's a matter of time, really," Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth told reporters. "We're a great second-half team. Half our team has been hurt all year. That's the reality of it. When we all get back we're right there in first place. We're a game out now. But I think going forward we can get all back healthy and get rolling and it's our division to lose."

The Nationals knocked off the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday to snap a four-game losing streak - one that included a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mets. Washington benefited from a two-run single from catcher Wilson Ramos in the eighth, off D-Backs reliever David Hernandez to break a 3-3 tie.

"It's the little stuff that counts," Nationals starter Max Scherzer said. "They're a good ballclub. We're a good ballclub. You just have to execute the small things better than the other team, that's the difference. That's why we gotta play 162 of these things to figure out who's the best."

The Mets also won Tuesday - their fifth straight - and continue to hold a one-game lead over the Nationals. The division rivals face each other six more times this season, though Bryce Harper acknowledged that he's not likely to pay attention to how his opponents are doing until then.

"I don't give a crap what the Mets are doing," Harper told James Wagner of the Washington Post on Sunday. "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."