The Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets 7-6 at Nationals Park on Friday, September 25, 2026, completing a one-run comeback in nine innings to take the division rivalry matchup. Dylan Crews supplied the big swing with a solo home run, Daylen Lile and Jacob Young each contributed multi-hit efforts, and a bullpen that held the line after a shaky start from Andrew Alvarez made the difference. Gus Varland earned the win. Josiah Gray closed the door for the save.

Nationals Rally Past Mets 7-6 Behind Bullpen Effort and Crews Home Run

Andrew Alvarez did not make it easy. The starter worked 4.2 innings, striking out seven but allowing five earned runs on seven hits and three walks. When he departed, Washington was very much in a fight. The bullpen answered. Gus Varland came on and retired the side over 1.1 innings — no hits, no runs, two strikeouts — to stabilize the game and put the offense in position to work. Yovanny Cruz followed with a clean inning of his own, one strikeout, no damage allowed.

Jack Sinclair ran into trouble in his inning of work, surrendering two hits and an earned run, but the Nationals had already done enough offensively to absorb it. Josiah Gray came on in the ninth, worked around a walk, and struck out one to close out the 7-6 win and earn the save.

Crews, Lile, and Young Drive Washington Offense

Dylan Crews delivered the marquee hit of the night, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI. It was a statement at-bat from the young outfielder in a game where Washington needed runs on the board.

The supporting cast was just as important. Jacob Young went 2-for-4, giving the lineup consistent production at the top. Daylen Lile matched that with a 2-for-3 line that included an RBI. James Wood added two more hits in three at-bats, keeping pressure on Mets pitching throughout the game.

The Mets bullpen struggled to contain Washington's lineup. Starter Jefry Yan was pulled after just 1.2 innings, having allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks. Jonathan Pintaro came on and fared even worse — 0.1 innings, three earned runs, two hits, a walk — and was charged with the loss. Justin Hagenman steadied New York's relief corps with four innings of work, but the damage had already been done early.

Mets Get Production From Bichette and Benge, But It Is Not Enough

New York did not go quietly. Bo Bichette went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, providing the Mets' most dangerous at-bats of the evening. Carson Benge also connected for a solo home run in two official at-bats. Juan Soto went 2-for-4 but did not drive in a run, leaving New York short despite a lineup that found hits.

The Mets finished with six runs, but Washington's bullpen locked things down when it mattered most, stranding New York's offense in the late innings and preserving the one-run margin.

Turning Point: Varland Halts Mets Momentum After Alvarez Exit

The pivot of this game came when Varland entered with Washington needing someone to stop the bleeding. His 1.1 innings of hitless, scoreless relief — two strikeouts, no baserunners — flipped the dynamic and allowed the Nationals' offense to retake control. Without that bridge, the outcome could have been different.

What's Next for the Nationals

  • Washington returns to action as the regular season winds down in the final week of September 2026.
  • The Nationals will look to build on this division win against the Mets as both clubs play out the remainder of the schedule.
  • Pitching depth and bullpen performance will continue to be a storyline to track for Washington heading into the final series of the year.