The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals on Sunday night after a late comeback that ended the game in the ninth inning, turning a tight finish into a walk-off win in New York.
Juan Soto and Pete Alonso were central to the outcome, with Alonso driving in the winning run after the Mets had fought back from behind. That mattered because it gave New York a needed division victory and denied Washington a road upset in one of the most watched matchups on the schedule.
The game fit the tone of nationals vs mets this season: one club trying to hold its ground in a crowded race, the other trying to keep pressure on from the middle of the pack. The Mets' ability to answer late also showed how thin the margin was between a routine loss and a result that could matter in September.
What made the finish harder on Washington was the way it slipped away after the Nationals had been in position to leave with a statement win. Instead, the Mets took advantage when it counted most, and the result gave New York a lift that should carry into the next meeting between the two teams.
For the Mets, the larger question is whether this was the start of a sustained surge or just one of those nights when a comeback lands at exactly the right time. For the Nationals, it was another reminder that close games against a division rival can turn on one swing, one inning and one missed chance.