Murph out of slump in grand style

Daniel Murphy insisted what mattered is his ulcerating success has come against a divisional opponent. The fact that opponent happened to be the Mets, well, that didn’t matter as much.

His manager Dusty Baker disagreed.

“It definitely matters. Guys say it doesn’t matter, but it matters. It mattered for me when I faced the Braves when I got traded from the Braves,” Baker said.

And pitcher Max Scherzer was even more definitive.

“He wants to beat their brains in. He won’t say anything, and he won’t say anything to us. It’s not like he’s in here boasting that he wants to beat the Mets, but he wants to beat them apart,” Scherzer said after Murphy continued to torture his former team, smashing a first-inning grand slam that led the Nationals to a 6-3 victory.

Murphy hit in all 19 games against the Mets last season, exasperating his old mates for a .413 average (31of-75) with seven homers, six doubles and 21 RBIs. His third homer of the season and second career grand slam was his only hit Sunday — but he had two Saturday after an oh-fer the previous night. Since leaving New York, Murphy is 34-of-88 (.388) with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 22 games against the Mets.

Just what you want to do against your old, um, “division rival.”

“You’re always motivated against a division rival. You’re going to play these guys 19 times,” Murphy said. “When you play a division team, one team goes in one direction and one goes in the other one. So the games are of the utmost importance.”

The first inning was a Mets killer, capped by the big hit from Murphy, called “one of the best hitters on the planet the last two years” by teammate Ryan Zimmerman.

Wheeler, in just his fourth start since Sept. 25, 2014, loaded the bases. Zimmerman struck out before Murphy hammered a 1-0 fastball into the Washington bullpen in right-center.

“Pitch in my zone and get my A swing off,” said Murphy.

Baker was asked if he “marveled” at Murphy against the Mets.

“No. I mean, he’s a great hitter and I enjoy watching him hit. But you know, I was marveled by Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds,” Baker said. “I’m not taking anything away from Murph but he ain’t hit 73. That I was marveled at.”

Well, maybe he’ll hit 73 against a certain division rival.