Nationals Blow Late Lead as Mets Rally for 5-4 Walk-Off Win
The Washington Nationals were three outs away from picking up a much-needed road victory Saturday afternoon. Instead, the New York Mets rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand Washington a crushing 5-4 walk-off loss at Citi Field.
Francisco Lindor delivered the final blow, lining a two-strike pitch from Yovanny Cruz into right field to score pinch-runner Cristian Pache and complete New York’s comeback. The loss dropped Washington to 5-9 in August and gave the Mets their second straight victory in the three-game series.
Nationals Fall Behind Early
Washington starter Brad Lord never found a rhythm.
A.J. Ewing walked to open the bottom of the first inning before Lindor also drew a free pass. Carson Benge walked later in the inning to load the bases, and Jared Young followed with a two-run double that quickly gave New York a 2-0 advantage.
Lord recorded only two outs before Washington went to its bullpen. He was charged with two runs as the Nationals faced the possibility of a long afternoon for their pitching staff.
Instead, left-hander Will Dion completely changed the game.
Dion entered in the first and delivered 4 1/3 hitless innings while striking out seven, keeping Washington within striking distance and allowing the offense time to respond.
Chaparro Gets Washington on the Board
The Nationals finally broke through against Mets starter Sean Manaea in the fourth.
Andrés Chaparro launched a solo home run, cutting New York’s advantage to 2-1 and providing Washington’s first major offensive spark of the afternoon.
Manaea kept Washington quiet otherwise until the sixth, when the Nationals suddenly flipped the game.
Brady House Delivers the Big Swing
Washington’s biggest moment came courtesy of Brady House.
House connected for a three-run home run in the top of the sixth, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 Nationals lead.
The homer continued an encouraging stretch for House and put Washington in position to even the series after Friday’s 4-1 loss.
Manaea ultimately allowed four runs over more than six innings, with Washington doing most of its damage via the two home runs from Chaparro and House.
New York immediately answered.
Benge homered in the bottom of the sixth to trim the Nationals’ lead to 4-3, turning what had briefly looked like a comfortable advantage into a one-run game heading toward the late innings.
Nationals Miss Chance to Add Insurance
Washington had opportunities to extend the lead, but one of the game’s biggest defensive plays kept the score at 4-3.
Benge showed off his arm from the outfield, recording a throw measured at 98.1 mph to cut down a Nationals runner at the plate. MLB noted it was the third-fastest Mets outfield assist tracked by Statcast since 2015, with Benge also responsible for the two faster throws.
That insurance run would prove enormous.
The Nationals finished with seven hits while leaving four runners on base. New York recorded eight hits and stranded eight.
Mets Rally in the Ninth
Washington carried the 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Cruz could not close it out.
Brett Baty worked a leadoff walk before Jorge Polanco singled. Francisco Alvarez then doubled into left field, bringing Baty home with the tying run.
Cruz managed to strike out Ewing, bringing Lindor to the plate with Pache running for Polanco.
Lindor fell behind before driving a 1-2 pitch into right field. Pache came around to score and Citi Field erupted as New York completed the 5-4 walk-off victory.
Cruz took the loss and fell to 0-1 after allowing both ninth-inning runs while recording only one out.
Yan Shuts Down Washington
While Washington’s bullpen eventually faltered, New York received outstanding relief work from Jefry Yan.
Yan retired all five hitters he faced across 1 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out three. The comeback gave Yan his first Major League victory.
His performance prevented the Nationals from adding to their one-run lead and gave New York’s offense enough time to mount its ninth-inning comeback.
House Continues to Show Promise
The outcome was painful for Washington, but House provided another encouraging performance.
His three-run homer represented the biggest hit of the game for the Nationals and came one day after House collected two hits and drove in Washington’s only run in Friday’s series opener.
Chaparro also supplied some needed power with his solo homer, while Jacob Young finished with two hits Saturday.
For a Nationals club evaluating which players can become part of its next competitive core, continued production from House remains one of the more important developments to watch down the stretch.
MSB Take
This is one Washington will feel it should have won.
Lord’s first inning could have buried the Nationals, but Dion gave them 4 1/3 outstanding hitless innings, and the offense eventually rewarded him. House’s three-run homer completely changed the game, and Washington entered the ninth with a lead on the road.
That has to become a win.
Instead, a leadoff walk opened the door, three Mets hits followed, and a 4-3 advantage disappeared without Washington recording the second out of the inning.
The young pieces continue to provide reasons for optimism. House went deep. Chaparro homered. Dion was excellent in long relief.
But rebuilding teams eventually have to learn how to turn performances like this into victories.
Washington had this one. New York took it away.
The Nationals will now try to avoid a sweep when the teams finish their three-game series Sunday at Citi Field.
Final: Mets 5, Nationals 4
