Queens, NY—–The Washington Nationals delivered another blow to the struggling New York Mets on Thursday, rallying late for a 5-4 victory in front of a crowd of 34,621 in New York.
CJ Abrams provided the decisive moment in the eighth inning, launching a two-run homer to right-center that flipped the game and sealed Washington’s comeback. The loss continued a brutal stretch for New York, which has now dropped 17 of its last 20 games.
The game featured a highlight early on when James Wood made a spectacular leaping grab at the wall to rob Juan Soto of a home run in the first inning—an early sign that it wouldn’t be the Mets’ day.
Despite entering the season with baseball’s highest payroll, New York has stumbled to one of the worst starts in franchise history. Their current pace places them among the organization’s most difficult Aprils, and their recent homestand did little to change the trajectory as they prepare to head west for an extended road trip.
The Mets did show fight midgame. After falling behind 3-0, they surged ahead thanks to a three-run blast from MJ Melendez in the third inning, followed later by an RBI double from Mark Vientos that gave them a 4-3 lead. But holding that advantage has been a recurring issue—this marked the 10th time this season New York has lost after leading.
Washington capitalized in the eighth. Luis García Jr. sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and after Daylen Lile hustled to beat a potential double play, Abrams delivered the knockout swing on a misplaced pitch from Luke Weaver.
On the mound, Gus Varland closed things out effectively, recording the final four outs. He escaped trouble in the eighth and then struck out Ronny Mauricio in the ninth to secure the win, stranding the tying run on base.
The Nationals set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening inning thanks in part to a defensive miscue, and added another run later behind Abrams’ bat. While New York managed to respond, Washington’s timely hitting ultimately made the difference.
Looking ahead, the Nationals will send Jake Irvin to the mound as they continue their series, while the Mets turn to Christian Scott as they try to regroup on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.
