QUEENS, NY — At least for one night, the New York Mets’ offense was alive and well, riding a seven-run fourth inning to trounce the Washington Nationals 8-0 on Tuesday night at Citi Field.
The win snaps the Mets’ (10-19) three-game losing streak, slows down a miserable stretch in which they had lost 15 of their last 17, and perhaps cools manager Carlos Mendoza’s hot seat. They had scored just four runs combined over their last three outings and had not scored more than six runs in a game since April 4.
“We haven’t been in that situation as of late,” Mendoza said after the game. “It’s always good to have that cushion there… We haven’t been able to smile in these press conferences lately.”
Bo Bichette homered and drove in two runs, and Juan Soto hit his second home run of the season — his first since returning from the injured list last Wednesday — during the Mets’ monster fourth inning, which was their most runs scored in a single frame since Aug. 29, 2025, when they scored seven in the second inning against the Miami Marlins.
“This gives a little confidence to the lineup and remember what we’re capable of,” Soto said.
On the first pitch of the night, Bichette scored as many runs as the Mets did in 18 innings of Sunday’s doubleheader loss to the Colorado Rockies: One. The New York lead-off man sent a high, 90-mph fastball the other way just over the 370 sign in right field.
His second home run of the season was also the seventh lead-off blast of his career.
The Mets’ offense did not get a hit off Zack Littell, who entered Tuesday with a 7.56 ERA this season, until the fourth inning, when MJ Melendez’s one-out single to spark their resurgence.
After walks to Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to load the bases, the struggling Marcus Semien got a gift when his chopper to third base, which likely would have been an inning-ending double play, skipped under the glove of Jorbit Vivas and into left field to score a pair.
“I think we all felt it there,” Mendoza said of the lucky break. “This is kind of like the break we were looking for. And not only that, just to be able to cash in. That’s the next step there. Not only did we catch a break, but what happened behind after that.”
Carson Benge then slapped a single to left-center to score two more.
The rookie outfielder is coming around after a slow start to his MLB career, and is 7-for-his-last-16.
“Short, aggressive, getting the barrel to balls, using the whole field,” Mendoza described Benge’s improved swing. “Not only pulling the baseball, but going the other way. Just hitting line drives and not missing pitches. He’s on time for the fastball, and it’s just good to see it.
Following Ronny Mauricio’s single, Bichette’s sac fly scored Benge. Soto then put the exclamation point on the Mets’ biggest inning of the season with an opposite-field two-run home run to make it 8-0.
“I appreciate the effort that the guys put in after the [Semien] groundball,” Soto said. “Everybody took great at-bats and got base hits… It was really cool to see.”
Mets starter Clay Holmes continued his masterful start to the 2026 season, shoving six shutout innings while allowing just three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. It lowered his season ERA to a sterling 1.75.
“He’s pounding the strike zone,” Mendoza said. “Not only getting strike one, but staying on the attack. Not being too fine and just going for strikeouts. It’s just more like, here it is, especially with the sinker.”
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