Ronny Mauricio homered twice, A.J. Ewing hit a three-run home run and the New York Mets beat the host Nationals 7-1 on Saturday in Washington.
Carson Benge had three hits and scored twice for New York, which evened the three-game series.
Jake Irvin had retired eight straight Mets entering the seventh. Benge led off with a single and, with two outs, Francisco Alvarez walked. Ewing hit an 0-2 pitch out to right-center and the Mets led 3-1. Mauricio followed with a solo shot to right.
Benge doubled in the eighth and scored on a two-out grounder that shortstop Nasim Nunez misplayed for an error.
In the ninth, Ewing walked and Mauricio hit his second homer of the game and third of the season to make it 7-1. Two batters later Juan Soto was hit by a pitch on the right hand and left the game.
Dedniel Nunez (2-1) pitched a scoreless sixth with three strikeouts to earn the win.
James Wood had two of Washington’s three hits.
Irvin (2-10) gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over five innings of relief.
Mets rookie Jonah Tong gave up a run on three hits over five innings in his final start of the season. He struck out a career-high nine batters and walked one.
Washington starter Connelly Early pitched three scoreless innings and allowed one hit in his Nationals debut. Early was obtained from the Boston Red Sox for Curtis Mead in July while on the injured list with elbow inflammation.
In the Washington third, Nasim Nunez was hit by a pitch leading off and Wood singled. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Abimelec Ortiz hit a fly ball to right center. Right fielder Benge made an impressive diving catch, but Nunez came home after the catch and the Nationals led 1-0.
Soto singled leading off the New York fourth, but Irvin picked him off. Bo Bichette and Benge singled, but Mark Vientos grounded out and Brett Baty struck out.
–Field Level Media
