WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The New York Mets erupted for 10 runs in the 12th inning to beat the Washington Nationals 16-7 on Monday at Nationals Park. The game lasted 4 hours, 8 minutes before an announced crowd of 15,901. Bo Bichette went 3-for-6 with a home run and three RBIs for the Mets, who improved to 21-26. Carson Benge also had three hits and three RBIs. New York collected 18 hits and scored single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings before tying the game in the 11th on a sacrifice fly. The Mets then sent 14 batters to the plate in the 12th, with Benge and Bichette each doubling in two runs. Washington, which fell to 23-25, got two hits and two RBIs from Joey Wiemer and 12 hits overall. The Nationals scored two in the second and single tallies in the third, seventh, eighth, 11th and 12th. Huascar Brazobán earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one. Paxton Schultz took the loss. Jake Irvin started for Washington and struck out six over four innings.

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The New York Mets erupted for 10 runs in the top of the 12th inning Monday night, turning a tense extra-inning affair into a 16-7 victory over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The game, completed in 12 innings, was a back-and-forth contest that saw the Mets take an early lead, the Nationals claw back repeatedly and both teams trade runs in the 11th before New York’s historic 12th-inning outburst settled matters. The Mets improved to 21-26, while the Nationals dropped to 23-25. Bo Bichette, the shortstop who had been mired in a 1-for-16 slump over his previous four games, broke out with a 3-for-6 performance that included a home run and three runs batted in. He keyed the decisive rally with a two-run double in the 12th. Carson Benge also had three hits and three RBIs for New York, and Brett Baty added two hits, including a solo home run, and three RBIs. Huascar Brazobán earned the victory, improving to 3-1, with two innings of two-hit, shutout relief. Paxton Schultz took the loss, falling to 0-1, after being charged with five runs in the 12th inning. The game did not follow the projections of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-5 Nationals victory. Interstat’s ELO system had given the Mets a 53.90 percent probability to win, and New York was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined total of 23 runs went under the over/under line of 9.5. The Mets scored first, plating a run in the second inning on a run-scoring double by Luis Torrens after a two-base error by Nationals right fielder James Wood. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs on a double by Jose Tena and a single by Drew Millas. New York tied the game in the fourth on Baty’s solo home run to center field, his third of the season. The Mets took the lead in the fifth on a two-run single by Juan Soto, and Bichette extended the lead to 5-3 with a solo homer in the seventh. The Nationals again responded in the bottom of the seventh, pulling within 5-4 on a sacrifice fly by CJ Abrams. Washington tied the game in the eighth when Curtis Mead doubled home James Wood, making it 5-5. Both teams missed opportunities in the ninth and 10th innings. In the top of the 10th, the Mets put a runner on third with one out, but Soto was intentionally walked and Mark Vientos grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the 10th, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out, but Abrams struck out swinging to end the threat. The game tilted in the 11th. The Mets took a 6-5 lead on a sacrifice fly by Marcus Semien, scoring Vidal Brujan. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the inning when Joey Wiemer singled home Abrams, tying the game at 6-6. Then came the 12th. The Mets sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on seven hits. The rally began with a sacrifice bunt by Hayden Senger moving Tyrone Taylor to third. Benge then singled to right field, scoring Taylor for a 7-6 lead. Bichette singled, and after an intentional walk to Soto loaded the bases, Brujan bunted for a single, scoring Benge. Baty then singled to center, driving in Bichette and Soto for a 10-6 lead. Semien followed with an RBI single, scoring Brujan. A.J. Ewing singled to left, scoring Baty. After a flyout, Senger singled to reload the bases. Benge then delivered a two-run double, scoring Semien and Ewing, and Bichette capped the scoring with a two-run double, making it 16-6. The Nationals scored a run in the bottom of the 12th on a single by James Wood, but it was not enough. For the Mets, starting pitcher Christian Scott allowed four hits and three runs over four innings, striking out five. Austin Warren tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out one. For the Nationals, starting pitcher Jake Irvin allowed five hits and one earned run over four innings, striking out six. Mitchell Parker allowed two hits and one earned run over three innings in relief, striking out two. Wiemer, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the third inning, went 2-for-2 with two RBIs for Washington.

AP Sports Preview: Mets at Nationals WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The New York Mets and Washington Nationals open a four-game series Monday at Nationals Park with both teams seeking to climb above .500 in the National League East. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies with temperatures around 85 degrees. New York (20-26) enters having won three of its past four games, including a 7-6, 10-inning victory Sunday against the crosstown New York Yankees. Right-hander Christian Scott (0-0) will make his season debut for the Mets. Scott, a rookie called up from Triple-A Syracuse, has not recorded a decision in his only previous major league outing this season. Washington (23-24) dropped its series finale Sunday, 7-3 to the Baltimore Orioles, after winning the first two games. Right-hander Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.40 ERA) takes the mound for the Nationals. Irvin has struggled recently, allowing four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Baltimore on May 17. Both teams feature key players to watch. For the Mets, right-hander Freddy Peralta has been effective out of the bullpen and as a spot starter. In his past five appearances, he has a 2-3 record with a 3.24 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. He worked five innings Sunday against the Yankees, allowing three earned runs on two hits while striking out four. Peralta also faced Washington on April 30, giving up one earned run in six innings but taking the loss. The Nationals will look to right-hander Miles Mikolas, who has a 3-2 record in his last five starts with a 3.66 ERA. On May 17, he allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings against Baltimore. Mikolas earned a win against the Mets on April 30, yielding three earned runs in four innings. The teams last met April 28-30, with Washington taking two of three. The Nationals won 5-4 on April 30 but were shut out 8-0 on April 28. The series opener on April 29 saw Washington win 14-2. According to Interstat’s game simulator, the Nationals are projected to win 7-5. Despite that, New York is installed as a -1.5 run favorite on the moneyline. The over/under is 9.5 runs. New York’s offense has been led recently by Tyrone Taylor, who homered and drove in three runs Sunday. The Mets have scored at least six runs in four of their past five games. Washington’s Jacob Young hit a home run Sunday and has been a consistent contributor. The Nationals’ pitching staff has allowed three or fewer runs in seven of their past 11 games. Following Monday’s opener, the teams play three more games in Washington before the Mets travel to Miami and the Nationals visit Atlanta.