The New York Mets battered Washington's pitching staff for seven runs and cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Ronny Mauricio delivered the decisive blow with two home runs and three RBI, while A.J. Ewing added a solo shot of his own to power New York's attack. Starter Jake Irvin absorbed the loss, and the Nationals' offense managed just a single run against a deep Mets bullpen, making this a forgettable afternoon for the home side in a division matchup with real stakes.

Mets Offense Breaks the Game Open Against Jake Irvin

Irvin took the ball for Washington and ultimately took the loss, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits over five innings with six strikeouts and two walks. He was not without his moments — six punchouts show he was competitive — but Mauricio and Ewing made him pay in the worst way. Mauricio went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI, while Ewing was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI of his own. Between them, those two hitters accounted for six of the Mets' seven runs. When two batters combine for that kind of production, there is very little a pitching staff can do to stay in a game.

Carson Benge also made life difficult, going 3-for-5 to set the table consistently throughout the afternoon. And yes, Juan Soto — who spent years terrorizing opposing pitchers in a Nationals uniform before departing — went 2-for-4 for New York, a detail that stings no matter how many times it happens.

Jonah Tong Dominates, Nationals Bullpen Folds Late

On the Mets' side, rookie starter Jonah Tong was sharp, working five innings and striking out nine Nationals hitters while allowing just one earned run on three hits. That is a dominant line by any measure. After Tong exited, Dedniel Núñez shut the door in the sixth with a perfect inning and three more strikeouts, earning the win in relief. Nate Lavender, Devin Williams, and Tobias Myers each tossed a clean inning to close it out — the Mets emptied their bullpen with efficiency once the lead was comfortable.

For Washington, Connelly Early actually provided a stabilizing stretch, throwing three scoreless innings with just one hit and no walks allowed — a genuine bright spot in an otherwise rough afternoon. Richard Lovelady, however, was tagged for two earned runs in his one inning of work, allowing one hit and two walks, and that damage helped New York push the margin to six.

Washington's Lone Bright Spot: James Wood

On an afternoon when the Nationals managed precious little offensively, James Wood was the one Washington hitter who made consistent contact, going 2-for-4. The problem was that the Nationals could not string anything together behind him. Three hits total against Tong, and then nothing but zeros from the Mets' bullpen the rest of the way, tells the whole offensive story.

Turning Point

The game turned on the power outburst from Mauricio and Ewing. Once those home runs started landing, Washington never had a credible path back. A one-run deficit is manageable; a six-run margin against a locked-in Mets bullpen is not.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Ronny Mauricio (NYM): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
  • A.J. Ewing (NYM): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Carson Benge (NYM): 3-for-5
  • Juan Soto (NYM): 2-for-4
  • Jonah Tong (NYM): 5 IP, 9 K, 1 ER — W
  • James Wood (WSH): 2-for-4
  • Connelly Early (WSH): 3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 K
  • Jake Irvin (WSH): 5 IP, 6 K, 4 ER — L

What's Next for the Nationals

Washington will look to bounce back and avoid a series loss as this division matchup with New York continues. The Nationals will need better run support and cleaner relief work if they want a different result against a Mets lineup that showed Saturday it can hurt you in multiple ways.