Mets explode in 10th vs. Nats for second straight night
Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer to cap a five-run 10th inning Tuesday night for the resurgent New York Mets, who beat the host Washington Nationals 7-2 in the second game of a four-game series.
The Mets, who scored six runs in the 10th inning Monday night before hanging on for a 9-7 victory, have won 20 of 28 to move over .500 at 42-41. The Nationals have lost seven of eight.
New York overcame a 2-0 deficit for the second straight night Tuesday. Francisco Lindor homered to lead off the sixth, then hit a one-out double in the eighth and scored on Brandon Nimmo's ensuing single to make it 2-2.
Jose Butto (2-3), who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, threw two innings of one-hit ball before the Mets broke through against Robert Garcia (0-3) in the 10th inning.
Jose Iglesias laced a go-ahead leadoff double that scored automatic runner Tyrone Taylor from second base. New York then piled on four more runs with two outs via an RBI double by Nimmo, a run-scoring single by Mark Vientos and Alonso's 382-foot homer to left.
Nimmo, who sat out Monday's game after he fainted in his hotel room early in the morning, went 2-for-3 with a stolen base after entering Tuesday's game in the fourth inning. He replaced Harrison Bader, who crashed into the center field wall trying to chase down Jacob Young's third-inning double.
Lindor, Vientos and Alonso also had two hits each.
CJ Abrams had two hits for Washington, including an RBI infield single in the third. Harold Ramirez legged out the back end of a potential double play ball as Young scored in the fifth for the Nationals.
Mets starter Sean Manaea gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five over a season-high seven innings.
Washington rookie left-hander DJ Herz, making his sixth career start, allowed one run on five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over 5 2/3 innings.
Herz, who struck out 13 and walked none in a 4-0 win over the Miami Marlins on June 15, is the second pitcher since 1901 to strike out at least 10 and walk none twice in his first six career starts. Former Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg did so in 2010.
