The New York Mets continued their hot streak Monday night, pulling off a 5-4 comeback win in extra innings over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Coming into the opener, the Mets were riding momentum with an 8-2 record over their last 10 games, while the Nats had been more inconsistent, splitting their previous ten matchups 5-5.
Washington jumped out early in the first inning after CJ Abrams reached second and 1B Nathaniel Lowe followed with a two-run homer off Mets starter Griffin Canning. Canning showed early signs of trouble, throwing 20 pitches by the second inning and giving up a pair of runs. He settled down slightly but was far from dominant.
The Nationals nearly added to their lead in the top of the second when Abrams ripped a potential RBI double down the right field line. However, Angel Tena, who had singled with two outs, was gunned down at the plate on a strong relay to keep the score at 2-0.
On the mound, MacKenzie Gore was dealing. The young lefty held the Mets scoreless through the first two innings, allowing just two baserunners and striking out three. His streak was broken in the third, though, when Juan Soto launched a solo shot to dead center to get New York on the board.
CJ Abrams responded again in the fifth, taking the first pitch from Canning deep to left for a solo homer, adding an insurance run for the Nationals. Canning closed out the top of the fifth with a timely pickoff of James Wood to prevent further damage.
Despite trailing for most of the night, the Mets showed fight. Soto delivered again in the eighth, ripping a game-tying double to bring the Citi Field crowd to life and send the game into extras.
In the bottom of the 10th, with Ronald Acuña Jr. placed on second to start the inning, Jeff McNeil played the hero. He lined a single to right field, driving in the winning run and capping off a 5-4 walk-off win for New York.
The Mets continue to build momentum in the NL East, while Washington will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the series.
