CJ Abrams hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and drove in three runs as the visiting Washington Nationals rallied for a 5-4 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon.
After Luis Garcia Jr. opened the inning with a single and Daylen Lile avoided hitting into a double play on a fielder’s choice, Abrams gave Washington a 5-4 lead by driving a 2-1 changeup from Luke Weaver over the right field fence.
Abrams’ 403-foot drive was his sixth hit in 11 at-bats in the series and helped the Nationals win for the fourth time in five games. Washington also beat the Mets for the sixth time in the past nine meetings.
Abrams homered off Weaver (2-1) after Washington lost an early three-run lead.
The Nationals went ahead in the second when Jorbit Vivas scored from first on New York starter Freddy Peralta’s three-base throwing error on a comebacker. Jacob Young followed with a two-out RBI single. Abrams flailed a broken-bat single to left field after Garcia doubled in the third.
Besides the shortstop’s clutch hits, the Nationals also got standout defense from right fielder James Wood.
Wood made a leaping catch and stuck his glove over the fence to rob Juan Soto of a homer in the first. In the fifth, Wood charged in and made a diving catch on Bo Bichette’s sinking liner.
New York’s MJ Melendez hit a tying three-run homer over the right field fence off Miles Mikolas’ 1-2 fastball in the third. Mark Vientos hit an RBI-double to the right-center field warning track to give the Mets a 4-3 lead in the sixth.
The Mets lost for the 17th time in 20 games. Their skid includes a 12-game losing streak and New York has been outscored 106-53 in a span when they lost Francisco Lindor (calf) and Luis Robert Jr. (back) to the injured list.
Mikolas allowed three runs on three hits in four innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked one while frequently falling behind hitters. Left-hander Mitchell Parker (2-0) went the next three innings and former Mets lefty Richard Lovelady got two outs after Soto opened the eighth with a double.
Gus Varland stranded Soto at second in the eighth and struck out Ronny Mauricio in the ninth to cap an eight-pitch at-bat with Francisco Alvarez on second to secure his third save.
Peralta allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six and walked three.
