WASHINGTON -- The New York Mets starting rotation remains fluid with 18 games remaining in the regular season. But it doesnt appear as though Rafael Montero will be part of it moving forward.He struggled with command for the third straight outing as the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 8-1 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.Montero walked three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded. He lasted 1 2/3 innings for the shortest of his 12 career big league starts, allowing five hits and six runs with four walks and two strikeouts.Manager Terry Collins was not sure who would start the next time Monteros turn comes up, but he ruled out giving the right-hander another opportunity.Its pretty frustrating, because he does have good stuff, Collins said. You can see when hes actually throwing strikes, theres not a lot of good swings. But he gets himself in trouble because he gets behind in counts.Over his last three starts, Montero has allowed 14 walks in 11 innings.It doesnt matter where they put me, Montero said. I just have to continue doing my job. I think what I tried to do is just get ahead of hitters, but unfortunately sometimes things dont work out.Collins did not rule out the possibility of Jacob deGrom taking Monteros spot in the rotation, although deGrom may need more time to recover from forearm soreness that has kept him out since Sept.1. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session at Nationals Park Monday afternoon.Anybody could be in the mix for that spot, Collins said.Mat Latos threw 4 1/3 innings in his first start with the Nationals allowing three hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts. His first start with the Nationals was cut short due to hamstring tightness. Reynanldo Lopez (3-3) combined with three relievers for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.Montero struggled early Monday walking three Nationals in the first inning, including Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos with the bases loaded.Nationals pitcher Mat Latos led off the second with a solo homer over the left field fence, before Daniel Murphy doubled and Harper was intentionally walked. The move backfired as Rendon then delivered his 18th homer of the season to put the Nationals ahead 6-1. It was the 60th and final pitch of Monteros outing.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 off Mets reliever Gabriel Ynoa.With the win, the Nationals increased their lead in the National League East to 10 games -- their largest cushion of the season- and reduced their magic number to nine to clinch their third division title in five years.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. Backman spent the last four seasons as manager of the Las Vegas 51s.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. 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There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. OPELIKA, Ala. -- Angel Cabrera and Jhonattan Vegas dominated the par-5 holes in steamy conditions Thursday to share the Barbasol Championship.The 46-year-old Cabrera, from Argentina, eagled the par-5 13th on Grand Nationals Lake Course, holing a 60-footer from the fringe, and birdied the two other par 5s in a bogey-free, 6-under 65.Cabrera left the course after his morning round without speaking to the media. Hes one of two major champions in the field at the PGA Tour event, which is played opposite the British Open. Cabrera is the 2007 U.S. Open champion and 2009 Masters winner.Vegas, from Venezuela, also eagled the 13th -- making a 20-footer -- and birdied the other par 5s in a bogey-free round. He won the 2011 Bob Hope Classic for his lone tour title.It was a great round overall, Vegas said. From the beginning all the way to the end, I felt like I did exactly what I had planned at the beginning of the day. Was able to hit the ball straight from tee, take advantage of the par 5s. I played the par 5s at 4 under, which is really good on this place. I was able to manage some missed shots that I hit to make some good pars to shoot a great round.Former Auburn player Blayne Barber was a stroke back at 66, along with Martin Laird, Ben Crane, Shawn Stefani, Matt Bettencourt, Michael Kim and Lucas Lee.Turned the heat up, Laird said about the temperature. I played nicely. The course is in good shape, so if you put it in the right spot and hit some good shots, you can make some putts. I really hit the ball well tee to green today, putted solid but left a couple out there. But overall very happy.The Scot tied for seventh in Nevada two weeks ago in his last start.Crane is making his first appearance in the event.This is a big-boy golf course, Cranne said.dddddddddddd You could play a major championship here, no problem. The course is in great shape, feeling great about my game and just played solid all day. Made a couple of those critical saves and just made a great up-and-down with an 8-iron on the last hole for birdie to get it to 5 under, so off to a great start.Stefani birdied four of the first five holes on his back nine, but dropped a stroke on the par-5 16th.I did a lot of great things today and, on top of that, I stayed patient and just kind of tried to play one shot at a time, Stefani said. It was nice to get off to a good start, especially in this heat. It kind of maybe started wearing on me just a little bit the last couple holes, you kind of start getting hungry, trying to eat lunch and started to get a little hotter.Former Auburn player Michael Johnson shot a 67 in his pro debut.I couldnt ask for a better way to start my career, Johnson said. It was awesome. Played with two great guys (Omar Uresti and Dawie van der Walt), which helps. It was a great day, weather was good. I thought we were going to get rained on a little bit, but everything went great.David Toms, the other major champion in the field, also had a 67. Hes 49.Former University of Alabama player Robby Shelton birdied the final hole for a 69 in his second PGA Tour start as a professional. He was third last year while still in college.Matt Gilchrest, a rising senior at Auburn, had a 70.Hunter Mahan shot a 74 in his first event since the birth of his third child.The winner will get a two-year exemption and a spot in the PGA Championship, but will not be exempt for the Masters. ' ' '