NEW YORK -- Entering Monday's action, Washington had a .237 batting average, which ranked last in the National League. But the bats came to life, as the Nationals gave Odalis Perez his first victory of season in a 10-4 pounding of the Mets at Shea Stadium.

Washington snapped its three-game losing streak and improved its record to 16-23.

Perez had four straight no-decisions entering the game, and he pitched well enough to win at least three of his outings. But lack of run support and a shaky bullpen have played a large role in his deprivation of victories.

Monday was a different story, however. Perez wasn't at his best on the mound, giving up three runs after four innings. And it looked like Perez was in for an early exit, but he settled down long enough to pick up the win. Perez pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on 11 hits.

"It wasn't the best way to get it," Perez said. "I have been pitching so many good games. This is the first time that I've seen my offense helping me. But I'm happy I received the win. It was a battle."

Said Nationals manager Manny Acta: "He has pitched really good for us. Things started shaky for him by leaving some pitches up. He kept fighting and [hurled] a good outing."

The game was tied at 3 in the fifth inning, when the Nationals went to work against Mets right-hander Nelson Figueroa. Nationals catcher Jesus Flores had a two-run double to give Washington a two-run lead.

"It's exciting to see [Flores come through]," Acta said. "That's why we think so highly of the kid. We think he is going to be a good player up here. He just looks like he belongs here. He walks around and he looks like has that special way about him."

For Flores, the hit was extra special, because the Mets were the team that left him unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft during the winter of 2006. Last year, the Mets gave him fits at the plate as he went 4-for-22 (.182) against them.

"It was great feeling for me personally, because last year, I had a lot of opportunities against the Mets and I never [did well against them]," Flores said. "Finally, tonight, we did it. It was good to work with Odalis and the guys."

After Flores' big hit, Perez helped himself with a single that sent Flores home.

In the next inning, Jorge Sosa entered the game for the Mets and the Nationals added four more runs. Lastings Milledge produced a two-run double, while Perez and Felipe Lopez each contributed RBI singles. In that frame, New York walked Flores to get to Perez

"The guys had a lot of energy today and had quality at-bats, taking pitches," Acta said. "It paid off. During the second half of the game, we did it a little better with runners in scoring position."

For the game, Perez went 3-for-3 to raise his batting average to .313. Perez became only the second Nationals pitcher to collect three hits in a game. Right-hander Livan Hernandez did it twice on Aug. 18, 2005, against the Astros, and April 19, 2006, against the Phillies.

Perez will be the first one to tell you that he is not a good hitter. Entering the season, he had a .129 batting average and was 2-for 13 entering Monday's game.

"I saw three cookies over the middle of the plate, and I swung," Perez said. "I was lucky that I got three hits in the game. But sometimes as a pitcher, you have to [help yourself]. It was one of those nights where I had to bunt the ball down and put the ball in play three times."

Even Flores was impressed with the way Perez handled the bat.

"That was excellent," Flores said. "He went 3-for-3. That was very good for him, and I'm happy for him."

Not as happy as hitting coach Lenny Harris, who watched the Nats struggle all season with the bat, especially with runners on base.

"We finally hit the ball well tonight," Harris said. "We got a lot of runs. Guys drove in some runs early in the game. We haven't been consistent yet where we can keep battling every night."

Maybe the consistency at the plate is back for the Nats, starting on Monday night.