Twins 6, Astros 3: Two hours later…

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 18: Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (56) celebrates his solo home run during the third inning of a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros on May 18, 2026, at Target Field in Minneapolis MN. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It was a stormy night in Minneapolis and no one from Cory Provus to the players on the field thought this game was going to go a full nine innings. The field was a mess, Astros shorstop Jeremy Peña turned the field into his personal slip-n-slide, but no one, and I mean NO ONE, was going to stop these umps from forcing the players out for four more meaningless innings.

But let’s go back to the first inning where we all were thankfully put out of our Simeon Woods Richardson-induced misery. With SWR in the midst of the worst stretch of his career, manager Derek Shelton turned to rookie Kendry Rojas, who immediately showed off why he’s a difficult prospect to figure out. Rojas hit Peña, allowed a single to Isaac Paredes, and walked Yordan Alvarez on four pitches to load the bases with no outs just nine pitches into the game. Luckily, a pop out and a weak line drive double play got the Twins out of the jam without allowing a run.

And then, Rojas was nails. He allowed one hit in the second inning but largely overpowered this veteran Astros lineup all night. Final line: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 runs allowed. His hybrid reliever/starter role, combined with the organization trying to limit his workload, means he isn’t really able to throw more than 50-60 pitches per outing right now, but Rojas showcased exactly why the Twins have been hesitant to move him to relief full time.

On the offensive side, it was all Josh Bell early. Bell got a hanging changeup from Tatsuya Imai in the second that he mashed off the batter’s eye in center. Things were quiet until Bell came up again the fourth inning and went oppo-taco to put the Twins up 3-0. It would have been nice to see the lineup have a better performance against a struggling pitcher, but a win is a win.

After the two hour rain delay, the Twins came back ready to add some more runs. Six straight Twins reached base with one out in the 6th, resulting in three additional runs, but a sloppy send/late hold by third base coach Ramon Borrego resulted in Bell getting caught in no man’s land between third and home and getting nabbed on the bases.

Justin Topa came in and gave up three runs in the seventh inning, as he is wont to do, but you don’t need me to recap why a bad pitcher gave up runs. It should be expected at this point. Eric Orze got the Twins out that jam and pitched a clean eighth, but Yoendrys Gomez got the Twins right back in one in the ninth. Gomez walked notable bad hitter Christian Vazquez on four pitches, got Peña to pop out, then walked Paredes on five pitches to bring up MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez as the tying run. Shelty turned to veteran Taylor Rogers who got Alvarez looking and then got Christian Walker to ground out to end the threat and the game.

Two final notable things from this game. First, Ryan Jeffers left the game in the ninth inning after cracking his bat on a foul ball. Jeffers stayed in for two more pitches but left the game mid-AB. No word on what the potential injury is, but Jeffers is a gamer who wouldn’t leave for no reason. For a team missing Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner recently demoted, and Royce Lewis on the verge of the same, they can hardly afford to have Jeffers miss significant time.

Second, two different pitchers issued four pitch walks to Christian Vazquez. I don’t need to tell anyone around here that walking Vazquez at all, let alone on four pitches, is a demote-able offense. Simeon Woods Richardson is still adjust to reliever life, it appears.

STUDS

  • Josh Bell: 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
  • Kendry Rojas: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 R

DUDS

  • NO DUDS TWINS WIN!!!!

Comment of the game goes to norff for finally making Justin Topa’s role on this team clear.

23-26: Chart

SEATTLE, WA - MAY 18: Cole Young #2 of the Seattle Mariners and Colt Emerson #4 looks on prior to the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Mariners 6, White Sox 1

Anton Chigurh: Bryan Woo, .31 WPA

Anton Chinacci: Eduard Bazardo, -.18 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day:

Padres show why they’re leading NL West in shutout win over Dodgers

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller reacting after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hitting a single against the San Diego Padres, Image 3 shows Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to striking out, holding his batting helmet and with his bat flipped in the air

SAN DIEGO –– The Padres own the worst batting average in the majors. Their starting rotation is being held together by Elmer’s glue and duct tape. And they have the run differential of, at best, a .500 ball club.

After a 1-0 win over the Dodgers on Monday night, they are also in first place in the National League West.

If you’ve been watching from afar, and wondering exactly how the Padres (29-18) are winning so much with their best two players batting a combined .207 and most of their best pitchers on the injured list, then Monday’s series-opener provided a telling answer.

They’ve found ways to limit runs, riding a scoreless seven-inning start from Michael King on Monday (including a season-high nine strikeouts for him).

Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 at Petco Park on May 18, 2026. Getty Images

They’ve gotten unexpected contributions from others in their lineup, including a first-inning homer from Miguel Andujar off Yoshinobu Yamamoto (the only blemish in Yamamoto’s seven-inning, eight-strikeout start).

And once they’ve taken leads, they simply do not relinquish them, with superstar closer (and potential Cy Young candidate) Mason Miller picking up his 15th save in a scoreless ninth inning.

“When they’re ahead in the seventh inning, they don’t lose,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

“It’s hard to score against Mason Miller,” first baseman Freddie Freeman added.

Miller did not make life easy for himself in his save situation. He missed with eight of his first nine pitches, issuing two walks in a game for only the second time this year.

But on a night of missed chances for the Dodgers (29-19) –– who had a runner in scoring position in each of their last four trips to the plate –– they let another one go by the wayside. Will Smith flied out. Max Muncy took a called third strike. And Andy Pages hit a grounder to third that ended the game, handing the Padres the kind of win they’ve been getting all year. 

What it means

Standings might not matter much at this point in the year.

But if the first seven weeks of this season have been any indication, the Padres figure to be a thorn in the Dodgers’ side once again.

The last two years, the Padres have taken the division race down to the final weeks of the season. Last year, they held first place as late as Aug. 23, pushing the defending champions all the way to the end.

Big picture, such competition can be good for the Dodgers.

Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 18, 2026. Getty Images

But right now, it’s only underscoring their uneven start to the campaign.

After appearing to turn a corner during a recent five-game winning streak, their lineup came back to earth on Monday, striking out 10 times against King and company while going 0-for-7 with a runner in scoring position.

Who’s hot

It certainly wasn’t a highlight night for Shohei Ohtani. But he continued to improve his early-season numbers by reaching base three times in a 2-for-3 performance.

Coming off a big series against the Angels over the weekend, when he finally began to emerge from a month-long slump, Ohtani drew a walk in the fourth inning, then followed a two-out single in the sixth from Hyeseong Kim with a swinging bunt that led to an errant throw, putting runners on the corners.

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a single during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

A similar sequence played out in the eighth, when Ohtani followed Kim’s two-out walk with a single off right-handed reliever Jason Adam (and, curiously, not warmed-up left-hander Adrian Morejon in the bullpen).

Alas, on both occasions, Betts made an out behind him to end each inning.

It was all part of the Dodgers’ frustrating night at the plate.

Who’s not

The Dodgers’ baserunning, which made King’s life easier multiple times on Monday.

Through the game’s first five innings, the only two Dodgers players to reach base (Betts after a first-inning single and Ohtani after a fourth-inning walk) were both gunned down by catcher Rodolfo Durán while trying to steal second.

Then in the sixth, they didn’t take advantage of a chance to capitalize on a Padres defensive mistake.

On Ohtani’s swinging bunt, Durán’s throw to first base went up the line and allowed Kim to scurry all the way to third. Once he got there, however, third base coach Dino Ebel threw up a late stop sign –– just as second baseman Fernando Tatis Jr. was struggling to corral the ball in shallow right.

Roberts didn’t second-guess the decision afterward, pointing to the tricky timing of the sequence.

“You don’t know that he’s not going to come up with it clean,” he noted.

However, he also added, “It’s one of those that, yeah, it’s unfortunate. Two outs. If we know something different, he probably would have done something different. But that’s a hard one.”

Up next

The Dodgers will try to even this rivalry series on Tuesday, when Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.54 ERA) faces off against Griffin Canning (0-2, 10.64 ERA).

Mets follow Subway Series with 'resilience' and 'grit' in series-opening win at Nationals

The Mets have won three straight games, including six of their past seven, after they emerged from Monday's wild series opener at the Washington Nationals with a 16-7 win in 12 innings.

"It's huge," said Brett Baty, whose 2-for-6 night featured three RBI on a fourth-inning solo shot and his two-run single in the 12th inning when New York (21-26) scored 10 runs to pull away from Washington (23-25). "Just come in here and try to win Game 1. We've got three more here, so just came in here and tried to win Game 1, honestly."

The four-game set starts a seven-game swing that is set to continue this weekend in Miami and follows the Mets' 2-of-3 Subway Series result against the Yankees, which included Sunday's 7-6 win in 10 innings.

"I mean, the resilience, the grit -- that's a group that we came today and it's a new series, it's a new day," said Carlos Mendoza. "What happened yesterday doesn't matter, you know? And that's the mentality for tomorrow. We show up tomorrow.

"We won a very good game today. It was a back-and-forth, and we never got down. We kept punching. And even when we didn't score those couple of extra innings there, we were able to -- the pitching staff was able to give us a chance, and the guys came through.

"So, emotions -- like I said, we've got to be able to turn the page. I say that when we're losing, I'm saying the same thing when we're winning, you know? It's another important game tomorrow. We'll come here and that's what we'll do."

The Mets totaled 18 hits and used seven pitchers, including Huascar Brazobán, who earned the win after entering in the 10th inning and gave New York a chance before the bats broke out in the 11th and 12th.

"That's the team that we are," Brazobán said through an interpreter. "Whatever happened in the past happened in the past, and we go out there and compete. And now, it's favoring us. The talent that we have, the way that we're able to play -- it's turning out the right way now for us."

Nolan McLean (2-2, 2.92 ERA) gets the start next as the Mets seek a season-high-tying fourth straight win in Tuesday's 6:45 p.m. game on SNY.

"We're just doing our job -- showing up every day and trying to win games," said Bo Bichette, whose 3-for-6 night with three RBI was among New York's key contributors Monday. "And when you win games, you start to kind of feel what it feels like and you just try to keep that going. So, it's fun to win -- fun to come to the park right now."

Takeaways from Lucas Giolito’s Padres debut

San Diego Padres SP Lucas Giolito (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Late Sunday afternoon in Seattle was the setting for Lucas Giolito’s debut with the San Diego Padres. His emotions were high, but he channeled his energy into a decent outing. No question, there are plenty of positive takeaways from his first start of the 2026 campaign.

This season is different from others, as Giolito had to battle back from a right elbow injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 postseason with the Boston Red Sox. He was the last starting pitcher standing on the free-agent market. 

The Padres signed him to a one-year, pro-rated contract in late April. His outstanding season with Boston fueled their interest. Giolito posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts. His partnership with Garrett Crochet at the top of the Red Sox rotation earned the franchise an unlikely postseason berth.

Giolito overcame season debut nerves

Giolito shook off some nerves in his debut start, allowing only one hit against the Seattle Mariners. He showed no fear in attacking the strike zone with quality pitches. His command was sharp until the bottom of the sixth inning.

Giolito struggled with his control, walking three batters before Friars manager Craig Stammen removed him from the game. Granted, he was sitting in the dugout for an extended time while the offense scored five runs in the top of the inning.

The finish should not put a bad taste in your mouth. Instead, everyone’s optimism level should be high from Giolito’s first start. You have to be impressed with his presence on the mound, as he showed flashes of his former self.

I cannot wait to see Giolito’s second start, as he should be more comfortable and have better command of his pitches.

When he is on, Giolito’s pitching repertoire is elite

Giolito has an impressive repertoire, especially when his three-pitch mix (four-seam fastball, slider, and circle changeup) is effectively dominating the strike zone. But make no mistake: he relies heavily on his four-seam fastball to get batters out.

His pitching approach is built on neutralizing right-handed hitters by throwing a heavy slider and lefty batters swinging out in front of a fading circle changeup. It allows him to throw his four-seam fastball at the top of the strike zone. 

Not too many hitters feel comfortable in an at-bat against Giolito.

Questions will linger about the Padres starting rotation until Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta return to action. The team is playing above .500, but there is no time to rest on their laurels as the Los Angeles Dodgers are coming to Petco Park this week.

The Friars know how to survive and compete without a full roster available. The organization is looking for Giolito to carry some of the load. It may produce his signature moment in the Brown & Gold uniform. 

The Padres, by virtue of their solid start to the season, can afford to wait for Giolito to return to 2025 form. 

Rockies 7, Rangers 6: A wet and wild win

May 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14) runs to second on a two RBI double in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

It wasn’t a sure thing this game would be played to conclusion as the rain fell hard during Bark at the Park night. However, the Colorado Rockies and the Texas Rangers played a full nine innings of soggy baseball with plenty of slips, slides, and runs scored.

“I love it,” said TJ Rumfield of the conditions. “Anything that makes the [opposing] pitcher uncomfortable.”

Nearly-Quality Quintana

Left-handed veteran José Quintana wasn’t flashy, but got the job done on a wet night in Denver. He pitched 5.2 innings while giving up three earned runs—just the third time he’s given up more than two earned runs this season—on seven hits. Quintana’s control was strong despite a slick baseball. He walked just one Rangers hitter while striking out four, which is the second-most he’s recorded this season.

Quintana wasn’t without help, however. Incredibly solid defense from the Rockies despite the wet conditions helped him on multiple occasions. You had Rumfield corralling the ball as he fell into the first base dugout, multiple slick plays by Ezequiel Tovar, and a sliding catch in the outfield by Jake McCarthy.

His toughest inning was the top of the fifth. After giving up a solo home run to Justin Foscue, Quintana loaded the bases with two outs via back-to-back singles and a walk. A ground ball fielded by Tovar got him out of the inning. Quintana then looked like he could make it through six innings for just the second time this season—and net the Rockies a rare Quality Start—but after giving up a single and a double with two outs and an elevated pitch count he was relieved by Jaden Hill. Hill finished the inning on the aforementioned McCarthy catch.

Too close for comfort

After Hill pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, Victor Vodnik entered the game for the eighth inning. Vodnik has been struggling this season, entering today’s game with a 6.50 ERA in 17 appearances. His struggles continued tonight as he issued a double and two walks without recording an out to load the bases. Vodnik was pulled for lefty Brennan Bernardino.

Bernardino gave up a two run single as soon as he entered the game, and a third run would score when Kyle Karros fielded a grounder and decided to throw to first instead of home while attempting to turn a double play. Bernardino would eventually navigate out of the inning, but all three runs scored would be charged to Vodnik. Vodnik now has an ERA of 8.00 this season.

Juan Mejia closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, giving up one hit and striking out one batter for his third save of the season.

Rain falls, runs score

The Rockies had a relatively complete offensive performance against the Rangers, scoring seven runs (five earned) on seven hits. They struck out just six times while drawing four walks.

They cracked things open early in the first inning with a Willi Castro double and back-to-back walks drawn by Brenton Doyle and Rumfield to load the bases with no outs against starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore. Tovar, finally showing signs of emerging from his slump, plated two runs with a double of his own deep to left field. McCarthy re-loaded the bases with a swinging bunt single, but the Rockies were unable to further capitalize on the opportunity.

With slick conditions in the rain, the Rockies were able to plate another two runs in the third inning thanks to two errors by the Rangers’ infield defense. Hunter Goodman reached via error and Tovar drew a walk on an ABS challenge. A fielding error by third baseman Josh Jung allowed both Goodman and Tovar to score, though Karros—who hit the ball—was thrown out between first and second to end the inning.

The Rockies scored another two runs in the fourth with some small ball. Sterlin Thompson recorded his first big league hit, though was out after Braxton Fulford grounded into a forceout. However, Fulford then stole second and scored on a Doyle single. Doyle then stole second himself and scored on a Rumfield single.

Fulford, who was called up today to replace an injured Jordan Beck on the roster, drew a walk in the sixth inning and once again stole second base. He was driven home on Castro’s second double of the evening.

Up Next

There’s more rain in the forecast as the Rockies are slated for their second game against the rangers tomorrow night. Right-handed former top prospect Kumar Rocker is the scheduled starter for the Rangers, while the Rockies have yet to announce their own. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM MDT.


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King beats Yamamoto in an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 18: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 18, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who would have thought that when Miguel Andujar scored a run in the first on a solo homer, he’d be scoring the only one in this game as the Padres won it 1-0? Seldom throughout the course of the 2026 season did Yoshinobu Yamamoto find an opponent capable and effective in going toe-to-toe with him through a start—Michael King had something to say about that, as the Padres’ ace outdueled him, shutting down an offense that was just coming off scoring a whopping 31 runs in three games against the Angels, sweeping their way through the first of three straight series away from home. With seven scoreless innings, King was able to maintain the smallest of leads, and the Padres’ bullpen closed the door despite some late scares.

For those of you who weren’t following the Padres all that closely as of yet, considering this is the first meeting between these clubs in 2026, King is at the core of these successful first few months that have the Padres battling the Dodgers for the NL West lead. The Padres’ starter, who came into this game having allowed no more than two earned runs in seven of his nine starts, faced the minimum through his first five innings, seeing the two base runners he allowed thrown out trying to steal second. Interestingly, a similar pattern took place in the sixth, this time with a lead-off base runner erased following a double play. At least the Dodgers managed to work up King’s pitch count, which was surprisingly in check for a starter who recorded nine strikeouts in his first five innings, even if they failed to do damage by stranding two base runners in the sixth.

Unfazed by seeing Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani thrown out on the basepaths earlier in the game—also somewhat pressed to create action with how well King was pitching—Kyle Tucker stole second with two outs in the seventh. Unfortunately, Max Muncy couldn’t drive him in with a dangerous fly ball caught in right-center. That at-bat wrapped up seven scoreless for King on an even 100 pitches. It should be noted that Tucker only had that opportunity due to a Freddie Freeman walk on a 3-2 overturned strike call, winning his challenge by the thinnest of margins. Tucker replaced Freeman on the basepaths following a forceout.

With both starters completing seven magnificent innings, it was up to the Dodgers to make something happen late to avoid a frustrating 1-0 defeat, having last been shut out nearly a month ago. For a game with dominant pitching, though, the Dodgers sure did their part in wasting opportunities. Once again in the eighth, they put a couple of players on base, this time in front of Betts with two outs, and the shortstop couldn’t drive them in, instead grounding out.

Even against the imposing figure of Mason Miller as the closer, it’d be in line with this game for the Dodgers to threaten and not score, and that’s exactly what they did. Miller walked the first two hitters with spotty command, to say the least, but settled in after that, retiring the following three in order.

This represented the first 1-0 loss for the Dodgers at San Diego since 2008, and while Andujar’s home run will take a lot of the attention, Rodolfo Durán’s work behind the plate shouldn’t go overlooked. The Padres catcher threw out two of three base runners and won all three of his challenges.

Game particulars
  • Home run— Miguel Andujar (4)
  • WP— Michael King (4-2): 7 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 9 strikeouts
  • LP— Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-4): 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts
  • SV – Mason Miller (15): 1 IP, 2 walks, 1 strikeout
Up next

A couple of days removed from facing the Angels, the Dodgers will meet a starting pitcher who spent the bulk of his career in Anaheim in Griffin Canning. He’ll have to contend with Emmet Sheehan’s effort on the other side of this duel that starts at 6:40 p.m. (PT).

22-25 – Miserable night in Colorado goes miserably for Rangers

May 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) reacts after a play in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Texas Rangers scored six runs but the Colorado Rockies scored seven runs.

Let’s see here…

The Rangers fielded one of the least impressive lineups I’ve maybe ever seen.

Their starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore left injured after only an inning of work in which he was lucky to have allowed just two runs.

The defense committed a couple of errors among several more miscues, one of which allowed two runs to score despite Colorado not having a hit in the inning.

The Rangers out-hit the Rockies 10-7. Five of Colorado’s hits were with RISP to just one for Texas.

The Rangers had four pinch hitters. They went 0-for-6 on the night.

The team trailed 2-0, 4-1, 6-1, and 7-3 before still very nearly Coors Field-ing their way back to a win late only to fall 7-6 anyway despite several chances to at least tie the game.

Maybe it’ll be warmer tomorrow.

Player of the Game: Justin Foscue is probably wishing he’d been drafted by the Rockies so he could play every day at Coors Field. Tonight Foscue entered the game with six career extra base hits and left with nine as he homered, doubled twice, and drove in each of Texas’ first three runs.

Foscue’s career night concluded with a walk during a three-run eighth inning rally, as the former first-rounder reached in each of his plate appearances.

Up Next: The Rangers will be asking for innings from RHP Kumar Rocker tomorrow after another quasi-bullpen game tonight. The Rockies, meanwhile, don’t have a starting pitcher listed yet.

The Wednesday evening first pitch from Coors Field is scheduled for 7:40 pm CDT and will be aired once more on the Rangers Sports Network.

Brewers come out swinging in 9-3 rout of Cubs

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 18: Jake Bauers #9 and Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers high five after Bauers's three-run home run in the fifth inning of the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Zoe Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In the first of 13 meetings between the Brewers and Cubs this season, the Brewers set the tone for these matchups. Though the Cubs were riding a 15-game home winning streak and had their ace on the mound, it didn’t faze the Brewers at all. They scored eight runs off of Shota Imanaga as they rolled to a 9-3 victory in the season opener.

Early on, Imanaga looked strong for the Cubs. He got through the first with just eight pitches. Jackson Chourio flew out on the first pitch of the game, Brice Turang struck out on four pitches, and William Contreras grounded out. Meanwhile, Brandon Sproat had an opposite start. Eight of his first 11 pitches were balls as he walked the first two batters. He recovered, but not without a little tension. Two fly balls were deep on a windy day but remained in the ballpark and were easy fly outs. They were sandwiched with a strikeout of Alex Bregman, and the game remained scoreless.

Christian Yelich put the Brewers ahead with the first pitch of the second inning. With the wind blowing out, Yelich hit a no-doubt home run. It had an exit velocity of 109.3 mph and hit off the right field scoreboard. The Brewers took the early 1-0 lead.

The bottom of the second inning began with an odd sequence. On the first pitch of the at-bat to Michael Conforto, Contreras challenged the ball call. The ABS replay on the TV broadcast showed that it was barely a strike —it just clipped the tip of the corner of the strike zone — but it was never shown in the ballpark. The umpire said that the call was upheld, but the Brewers retained their challenge. This led to some confusion on if the Brewers had 1 or 2 ABS challenges. Sproat finished the at-bat by striking out Conforto, and it was confirmed later by MLB that the Brewers retained both challenges. It was a nice recovery for Sproat, who retired the side in order in the second, and struck out two.

After both starters traded mostly clean third innings, the Brewers unleashed their offense in the fourth. Contreras led off the inning with a single, then advanced to second on a Yelich ground ball that Nico Hoerner made a great play on. That didn’t deter the offense as Andrew Vaughn hit an infield single to put runners at the corners. Bauers cashed in the first run of the inning with a single up the inning, increasing the lead to 2-0.

Imanaga still had a chance to limit the damage after striking out Luis Rengifo. Sal Frelick didn’t let that happen, hitting a double into the left field corner to score both Vaughn and Bauers, increasing the lead to 4-0.

Joey Ortiz kept the inning going by drawing a walk, and Jackson Chourio brought in another run with another single up the middle, and the lead was up to 5-0.

Imanaga remained in the game to start the fifth inning, but the Brewers kept piling on. Yelich drew a one-out walk, and Vaughn hit a double into the left-field corner that put runners at second and third. Bauers then ended Imanaga’s day with another no-doubt home run off the right-field scoreboard, and the rout was on at 8-0. It had a slightly slower exit velocity of 106.2 mph, but a longer distance at 419 feet. Imanaga finished the day at 4 1/3 innings pitched with eight runs, nine hits, and three walks allowed. He only struck out two in the game.

Meanwhile, Sproat had recovered from a long first inning with three quicker innings, and had not allowed a hit going into the fifth inning. He also had a healthy 55-pitch count. He couldn’t keep the Cubs down, though. After Carson Kelly singled to lead off the inning, Dansby Swanson hit one out to left field and the Cubs were on the board, 8-2. Hoerner followed that with a walk, and Busch hit a double to deep center to score him. Sproat recovered by getting Bregman to ground out, but that was the end of his day. Unfortunately, the fifth destroyed his final line for the day. He allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings, with three hits and three walks while striking out five. Shane Drohan finished the fifth with a strikeout of Happ.

The Brewers got one back in the next inning. After Turang drew a walk and Contreras singled (both with two outs), Yelich hit a fly ball down the left field line that fell just fair in front of Happ. The bounce let Yelich reach second, pushing the lead back to 9-3.

From there, the Brewers brought in Blake Perkins to tighten up the defense — with Chourio moving to left and Bauers moving to first base. The bullpens took over, and while they did bend, they did not break. Drohan pitched the remaining 4 1/3 innings of the game, allowing four hits but no runs while striking out five. He earned the win instead of a save since he finished the fifth for Sproat. For the Cubs, Ethan Roberts allowed the run and three hits in the sixth inning, but that was all in 1 2/3 innings of work. Ty Blach limited the Brewers’ offense to one hit in the final three innings of the game, striking out two.

Overall, it was a balanced day for the Brewers’ offense. Eight of the nine starters recorded a hit, with only Turang going hitless — though he did draw a walk and score a run. Chourio, Contreras, Yelich, Vaughn, and Bauers all had two-hit days, and Yelich and Vaughn also drew walks to reach base three times. Bauers drove in four of the nine runs as he extended his on-base streak to 19 games. The Brewers went 6-for-9 with runners in scoring position, compared to an 0-for-9 day for the Cubs.

With the win, the Brewers move within a half-game of the Cubs for first place in the division, and hold a one-game lead in the loss column. They also head into tomorrow’s game with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound, who will face Ben Brown of the Cubs. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m.

Another Frustrating Loss For The Jays

May 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Lenyn Sosa (50) forces out New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) at second base on a throw from Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (22) and throws to first base to attempt a double play on a ball hit by Yankees left fielder Max Schuemann (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Schuemann was safe at first on the play. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Jays 6 Yankees 7

The Jays turned in one inning. Going into the seventh, the Jays were up 5-3. Adam Macko is in and gets the first two outs of the inning, but, with Aaron Judge coming up, John Schneider goes with a right-hander, Yariel Rodriguez. Understandable, Judge is much better vs lefties. And I like getting Macko out while he can feel really good about himself. Faced three batters, got three outs. A great start to a career. Rodriguez had faced eight batters and allowed one hit since coming up.

But he had nothing tonight:

  • Judge single.
  • Bellinger home run. Tie game.
  • Trent Grisham walks and steals. Now would have been a good moment to pull Yariel.
  • Jazz Chisholm homers and we are down by two,
  • Then he got the last out. Some about horse and barn doors.

I am understanding that we have a bullpen day tomorrow. Hopefully with Spencer Miles doing 3-4 innings, but still we are going to use 5 or more pitchers tomorrow. But, Yariel didn’t have it and, well, tomorrow is tomorrow’s problem.


We had a shot in the ninth. David Bednar in for the Yankees and he does the near impossible, he walks Ernie Clement. Jesús Sánchez, pinch-hitting for Myles Straw, doubles on the sixth pitch of the at bat, to score Clement and become the tying run at second.

Brandon Valenzuela struck out on four pitches.

Yohendrick Piñango walks on six pitches.

George Springer takes three straight balls and swings at a pitch low and inside. 3-0 count, he should have been taking. Next pitch, very low, swings. Next pitch, even lower, swings. George’s job is to be the calm veteran. It was just an awful at bat,

Vladimir Guerrero up. Takes two balls. Swings at a pitch on the outside edge. Gameday has it as a strike, but he should be waiting for a middle middle strike. Pitch five was well outside, he swung. I mean, it was likely smart to be looking for something off the plate, the way Bednar is throwing, but no need to chase that far out. Pitch six was at the top of the zone, a strike, Vlad grounds it to second.


Beyond that, Patrick Corbin wasn’t sharp, 4 innings, 6 hits, 3 earned, three walks, 3 strikeouts. We were pretty lucky that he only gave up the 3 runs.

Braydon Fisher got five outs, giving up one it. Macko three straight outs. Hoffman finished the game, giving up just a hit in the inning.

We did score some:

  • Three in the fourth: Vlad and Kazuma Okamoto singled. Two outs later, Clement homered. He had a day.
  • One in the fifth: Springer homered.
  • One in the sixth: One out singles from Lenyn Sosa and Daulton Varsho puts runners on the corners (Sosa just beat out Judge’s throw). Clement ground out 6-4, to pick up his fourth RBI of the day,

And, of course, the one in the ninth.

We had nine his and three walks. Springer had two (but two and a walk would have been better). Straw and Schneider had 0 fors (of the starters).

Jays of the Day: Clement (0.42 WPA), Sanchez (0.21), Fisher (0.11), and Macko (0.10, getting a JoD in his first game).

Other Award: Rodriguez (-0.72), Corbin (-0.17), and Valenzuela (-0.17). Springer, despite the homer, and Vlad get honorary ‘Other Awards’ for those terrible ninth inning at bats.

Surging Mets erupt for 10 runs in 12th for wild win over Nationals

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Carson Benge follows through his swing after hitting a two-RBI double, Image 2 shows Marcus Semien, wearing a New York Mets uniform, hitting an RBI single
The Mets defeated the Nationals in 12 innings Monday.

WASHINGTON — The opponents on this road trip aren’t particularly daunting, giving the Mets a wide opening to continue their recent surge.

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Monday night they avoided a letdown following the euphoria of winning the Subway Series, attacking throughout against the Nationals.

‘The Mets won 16-7 in 12 innings for a sixth victory in seven games.

The Mets scored 10 runs in the final inning, piling on against Jorbit Vivas, a position player, after they had built a comfortable cushion.

“When you win games, you start to kind of feel what it feels like, and you just try to keep that going,” Bo Bichette said. “It’s fun to win. It’s fun to come to the park right now.”

Carson Benge hits a double during the 10th inning of the Mets’ May 18 win. AP Photo

Carson Benge’s RBI single in the 12th inning brought in the go-ahead run after Hayden Senger’s sacrifice bunt had advanced the automatic runner.

Vidal Bruján’s suicide squeeze brought in Benge for an insurance run.

Brett Baty delivered the dagger with a two-run single.

But the Mets kept going. Marcus Semien, A.J. Ewing, Benge and Bichette all had hits that brought in runs to complete the onslaught in the inning.

“It was back and forth, and we never got down,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We kept punching, and even when we didn’t score in a couple of extra innings there, the pitching staff gave us a chance and the guys came through.”

Huascar Brazobán survived the 10th and 11th innings.

After Joey Wiemer’s infield hit in the 11th brought in a run to tie it 6-6, Baty at first base executed a tight throw on a grounder to nail the lead runner Wiemer at second.

Marcus Semien connects on a single during the Mets’ May 18 win. AP Photo

The ensuing batter, Vivas, doubled, but the Nationals never scored the winning run.

“I was just trying to turn a double play there and [the throw] snuck by Wiemer,” Baty said. “I was just trying to get two outs there.”

Home runs by Baty and Bichette were the hits that resonated the loudest, but Tyrone Taylor, Juan Soto, Benge and Luis Torrens all were instrumental offensively on a night the Mets rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the middle innings.

Tyrone Taylor reacts during the Mets’ May 18 win. Imagn Images

The Mets carried a 5-3 lead into the seventh, but couldn’t hold it.

After Brooks Raley surrendered a run in the seventh, Tobias Myers allowed an RBI double to Curtis Mead in the eighth that tied it.

Myers had recorded a big out an inning earlier, entering with the bases loaded to strike out José Tena.

The Mets (21-26) play another three games against the Nats before heading to Miami for three this weekend.

Christian Scott had a third straight start in which he failed to pitch at least five innings.

The right-hander was removed after allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

He threw 81 pitches.

“In order to get deeper in games, I have to get ahead and stay ahead,” Scott said.

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Torrens’ RBI double in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

The run was unearned after Taylor singled and advanced two bases on James Wood’s double error.

Wood misplayed the ball and then overthrew second attempting to nail Taylor.

Scott got two fast outs in the bottom of the frame before drilling Jacob Young in the ribs (Young departed the game).

Carson Benge singles during the Mets’ May 18 game. Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Tena’s RBI double tied it, and Drew Millas’ single — following a walk to Vivas — put the Nats ahead 2-1.

Scott encountered additional heavy traffic in the third and allowed another run on Wiemer’s RBI double.

Brady House singled to begin the rally and Daylen Lile walked with two outs.

Lile stumbled rounding third base on Wiemer’s double and had to retreat, potentially costing the Nats a run as Scott retired the ensuing batter, Tena, for the third out.

Baty’s homer leading off the fourth pulled the Mets to within 3-2.

It was the third homer this season for Baty, who crushed Jake Irvin’s first-pitch sinker 451 feet to center field.

The Mets rallied in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.

Torrens reached on an error by first baseman Luis García Jr. and Benge walked — both runners advanced on Bichette’s flyout — before Soto stroked a two-run single.

Bichette’s homer in the seventh widened the Mets lead to 5-3.

It was a needed contribution for Bichette, who began the day with a paltry .531 OPS.

“I’m pretty sure he’s going to get going here,” Mendoza said. “And he’s going to carry us for quite a bit.”

Another Good Night for Cleveland in Detroit

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 18: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians high-fives teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the top of the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 18, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Guardians dominated the Tigers tonight, winning 8-2.

The game began inauspiciously with a Riley Greene double giving Detroit an early 1-0 lead. But, Cleveland went to work on Tigers’ starter Framber Valdez in the 3rd. Brayan Rocchio tripled

Angel Martinez grounded out, then Jose walked… the Chase DeLauter grounded out just softly enough to score Angel and force Jose out at second. Then Rhys Hoskins stepped in to deliver the go-ahead double:

Of course, when playing Framber Valdez, you have to be careful not to hurt his fragile ego by scoring too many runs.

Slade Cecconi continued to get Tigers out quickly, while the Guardians played with fire and scored another couple runs off Valdez in the fifth on a Rocchio walk, an Angel Martinez single, and a Jose single… followed by a DeLauter grounder and a Hoskins sacrifice fly. Goodbye, Framber. See ya later.

Speaking of Angel, no one told the Tigers not to throw him pitches a foot outside the zone:

Leading up to this pitch, Bazzana bunt singled:

Steven Kwan drew one of his three walks on the night, and Hedges sacrificed them over. Martinez’s single followed his AL player of the week award today:

Then, José doubled and followed his double with a homer in the 8th inning:

Slade ended up going 7 and 1/3rd, giving up two runs. It made him very happy:

Matt Festa closed the 8th out and then Peyton Pallette limped his way through the 9th, walking a batter and hitting another, forcing Stephen Vogt to warm up Cade Smith. I just don’t know how long they will continue to carry Pallette. He is very similar to what 2021 Trevor Stephan was. The problem is that this is not the 2021 Guardians. This group is a clear playoff contender. But, that’s a concern for another day. A big win and no inner circle of trust relievers used!

The Guardians are now five games over .500 and Travis Bazzana looks so real, folks. Let’s sleep well tonight

Yankees outlast Blue Jays in stressful rollercoaster win

May 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) scores a run ahead of the tag by Toronto Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela (59) on a sacrifice fly by Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Yankees desperately needed something positive Monday night and, the offense delivered. After a brutal 2-7 road trip that ended with another frustrating series loss in Queens, the Yankees returned to the Bronx looking for any sign of life.

Behind a huge night from Paul Goldschmidt, timely power from Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr., and a stressful but successful finish from David Bednar, the Yankees managed to hold off Toronto 7-6 to open an important four-game series against the Blue Jays.

Paul Goldschmidt wasted no time giving the Yankees life Monday night, launching a leadoff home run into right-center field to open the game. Goldschmidt’s fifth homer of the season immediately gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead and some early juice.

Ryan Weathers cruised through the early innings before the game suddenly flipped in the fourth. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto reached on singles, Ernie Clement got just enough of a two-out, three-run homer into left-center field that gave Toronto a 3-1 lead.

The Yankees answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, showing some fight. Anthony Volpe reached on a double after an out call was overturned and later scored using a nifty slide on a sacrifice fly from J.C. Escarra. That trimmed the deficit to one before Goldschmidt delivered again with two outs. The veteran first baseman lined a game-tying double into center field that scored Max Schuemann and tied the game at 3-3.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, the tie did not survive long. George Springer jumped on a Weathers offering in the fifth inning and launched a solo homer into left-center field to put Toronto back ahead 4-3.

Toronto added another run in the sixth inning after Lenyn Sosa and Daulton Varsho singled to chase Weathers from the game. Paul Blackburn relieved the left-hander and allowed Sosa to score on a Clement fielder’s choice.

Weathers’ final line was 5.1 innings of 5-run ball with 7 strikeouts and no walks. Outside of the two big mistakes, Weathers’ stuff otherwise looked impressive throughout the night.

The score held at 5-3 until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Yankees offense decided it was not going quietly into the night. Yariel Rodríguez replaced Adam Macko, who looked sharp in his Major League debut.

The Yankees quickly lit Rodríguez up like a Coney Island booth. Aaron Judge singled before Cody Bellinger launched a ball 402 feet into the Yankees bullpen, tying the game at 5-5. However, the Yankees were not done there.

Trent Grisham worked a walk while pinch hitting for Amed Rosario before Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a ball down the left field line that provided a little music off the foul pole. Chisholm’s fifth home run of the season gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead and had the dugout, crowd, and several living rooms around the country rocking.

The bullpen must prefer the water in the Bronx. In relief of Weathers, Paul Blackburn worked 1.2 scoreless innings before Fernando Cruz struck out the side in the eighth inning. Aaron Boone then handed the ball to closer David Bednar for a chance at redemption, hoping the veteran right-hander would have a short memory.

Bednar walked the leadoff hitter and a collective tightening could immediately be felt throughout Yankee Stadium. Pinch hitter Jesús Sánchez then doubled into right field, scoring Ernie Clement all the way from first base and trimming the lead to 7-6. Groans could be heard, but overall the boos held.

With no outs, the Blue Jays attempted to advance the runner, but after a few failed tries Bednar finally got Brandon Valenzuela swinging on a nasty splitter. A long battle with Yohendrick Piñango then resulted in a walk and a mound visit from pitching coach Matt Blake before George Springer stepped to the plate.

Needing a strikeout or ground ball, Bednar quickly found himself in a 3-0 count with his pitch count already climbing. After getting Springer to swing through two splitters, Bednar went back to the pitch one more time and got the veteran outfielder swinging again for a massive second out.

With two outs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped to the plate representing the tying run. Bednar again fell behind 2-0 before battling back to even the count at 2-2. After the at-bat eventually ran full, Guerrero rolled a ground ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. that resulted in a routine 4-3 putout and finally slammed the door shut.

It was a gutsy and badly needed win for the Yankees and, for one night at least, all was right in Yankee land. Blackburn picked up the win and Bednar gets his 11th save as the Yankees improved to 1-0 against Toronto in the series.

The Yankees will send Will Warren to the mound tomorrow night as he faces Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease. First pitch is once again scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern in the Bronx.

Box Score

Mets score ten runs in twelfth inning to beat Nationals

Brett Baty celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the fourth inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia.

The Mets and Nationals played an absolute slog of a game that lasted a little over four hours, but the Mets won 16-7 in the end. And hey, that beats the alternative.

The Mets got on the board first when Luis Torrens doubled on a ball that just passed over third base as it made its way down the left field line, driving in Tyrone Taylor in the process. But the Nationals answered with a pair of runs off Mets starter Christian Scott in the bottom of the inning. Jose Tena drove in a run with a double to tie the game, and later in the inning, he scored on a Drew Millas single to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Washington added a run in the bottom of the third and really should’ve scored another. Joey Wiemer, who entered the game in place of Jacob Young after the latter took a fastball from Scott to the ribs, doubled in a run to extend the lead. Daylen Lile looked like he would’ve scored a fourth run for the Nationals, but he stumbled as he rounded third base and had to retreat. Scott escaped the inning without further damage.

Brett Baty hit an absolute shot of a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut the Nationals’ lead in half, and a two-run single from Juan Soto put the Mets back in front in the top of the fifth.

While Scott only went four innings, Austin Warren threw a pair of scoreless innings, and Bo Bichette finally notched his first extra-base hit in forever with a solo home run to left-center in the top of the seventh. The Mets had a 5-3 lead.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. Brooks Raley had his worst appearance of the season—and one of his worst as a Met—in the bottom of the inning. He served up a leadoff double to James Wood, issued back-to-back walks to load the bases, and gave up a sacrifice fly that got the Nationals within one.

Tobias Myers took over for Raley and go out of the inning with the lead intact, but Myers gave up a run of his own in the bottom of the eighth when Curtis Mead doubled to tie the game.

Luke Weaver got into trouble in the bottom of the ninth, too, but he managed to get through the inning and send the game to extra innings. And after the Mets failed to score with the free runner in the top of the tenth, thanks largely to Mark Vientos grounding into an inning-ending double play, Huascar Brazobán kept with the late-inning bullpen theme. He loaded the bases with one out, but he induced a weak ground ball for a force out at home plate for the second out before getting a strikeout to end the inning and send the game to the eleventh.

Marcus Semien gave the Mets the lead with a one-out sacrifice fly just a few feet shy of the left field fence in fair territory, as pinch runner Vidal Bruján, who entered the game as the free runner for a massive baserunning upgrade from Vientos, had advanced to third when Brett Baty lined out to center to begin the inning.

Once again, that was unfortunately not enough. Brazobán came back out for the bottom of the eleventh, and the cheapness of the Manfred runner was really apparent. The Nationals’ free runner advanced to third base on a soft tapper, and another weak ground ball allowed him to score the tying run.

Brazobán got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder to first that Baty, who moved over to first after Vientos was lifted in the top of the inning, turned into an out at second base. Jorbit Vivas doubled, though, to put runners on second and third with two outs. Brazobán managed to keep the game alive again, though, when he induced a 6-3 ground ball to get the game to the twelfth.

And then the Mets scored ten runs in the top of the twelfth, as they scored five against Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz before Washington decided to give up on the game and put a position player on the mound. There was confusion among the umpires about whether or not that was allowed, which delayed the inning for a few minutes. But the Mets scored five more as they teed up on position player-turned pitcher Vivas.

That was—thank goodness—finally enough. Craig Kimbrel pitched the bottom of the twelfth and gave up a run, but he managed to finish the game without allowing more.

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Win Probability Added

FanGraphs WPA graph for Mets/Nationals on May 18, 2026

Big Mets winner: Bo Bichette, +29% WPA
Big Mets loser: Mark Vientos, -42% WPA
Mets pitchers: -24% WPA
Mets hitters: +74% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Nasim Nuñez grounds into a force out in the tenth, +18% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Curtis Mead doubles in a run in the eighth, -35% WPA
What’s WPA?

Mets score 10 runs in 12th for wild 16-7 extra-inning win over Nationals

The Mets couldn't hold a late two-run lead, but timely pitching in extra innings kept them alive before scoring 10 runs in the top half of the 12th for a 16-7 win over the Nationals in Washington on Monday.

The top of the 12th was the highest-scoring single inning of extra-inning baseball for a National League team in 107 years. For the Mets, it meant a sixth win in seven games and a third straight to see them improve to 21-26 on the season. Washington fell to 23-25.

Here are the takeaways...

- The Mets entered the game with the 11th-worst average with RISP (.242) and sixth-worst OPS with RISP (.679). They went down swinging in their first two chances in the first inning as Mark Vientos flailed at a 0-2 low-and-away breaking pitch and Brett Baty fanned on a 1-2 fastball above the zone.

Luis Torrens came through pulling a double down the third base line to score Tyrone Taylor from third on a 3-2 sweeper that stayed over the plate.

Bo Bichette got a chance with runners on first and second and nobody down in the fifth against Nats lefty reliever PJ Poulin, but hit a can of corn to right. Torrens and Carson Benge were aggressive to move up to put two in scoring position for Juan Soto, who shot the first pitch through the left side of the infield for a two-RBI single to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

Bichette got the instant RBI chance to start the 10th and lined one down the line in right that James Wood tracked down in foul ground, advancing the runner to third. After Soto was walked intentionally, Vientos sharply hit into a 4-6-3 inning-ender.

Baty got the chance in the 11th with Vidal Brujan in as a pinch-runner at second, but his sharp liner to center only advanced the runner to third. Marcus Semien, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to that point, plated the run with a sac fly to the wall in the left field corner to give them a one-run edge.

Hayden Senger, batting for the first time and Taylor on second in the 12th, laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Benge bounced an infield hit off pitcher Paxton Schultz's glove (98 mph off the bat) for the go-ahead RBI. After a single and a Soto intentional walk, Brujan got his first at-bat with the bases loaded and dropped down a bunt that just found the grass for an RBI and his first hit as a Met. Baty lined a 3-2 pitch through the right side of the infield to plate two, and with hustle put two in scoring position. Semien added an RBI single to right to make it a five-run inning off Schultz.

Nats manager Blake Butera then tried to bring in a position player to wave the white flag. The umpires at first tried to stop the change, but after checking with the league on the rules, they allowed the change as Jorbit Vivas entered. A.J. Ewing greeted the infielder on the hill with an RBI single to left on the first pitch. Against Vivas: Taylor flied out to the warning track in left, Senger loaded them with a single to right, Benge clobbered a ball to center to plate two more runs, Bichette scored two more with a double, and Soto popped out in foul ground. 

The Mets finished the day 9-for-20 with RISP and eight men left on base. Of course, with four hits in six chances against Vivas, who started the day as Washington's second baseman. 

Meanwhile, the Nats, baseball’s highest-scoring team, who entered batting .243 with RISP, went 4-for-16 in scoring chances with 19 left on base.

- Baty made up for his strikeout in his first at-bat, taking the first pitch of the fourth inning and hitting it a ton: 451 feet to center field (111.2 mph) for a solo home run off Nats' starter Jake Irvin. He finished 2-for-6 with three strikeouts.

- Taylor, Sunday's hero, got the start against a righty and got in scoring position in the second when he dropped a single to right before Wood made a pair of errors on the play, allowing him to reach third with two down in the second. (Wood’s miscue gave the Nats 45 errors on the year, most in baseball.) Taylor dropped in an opposite-field double that just stayed fair with two down in the fifth off lefty Mitchell Parker, but was left stranded. He finished 2-for-6.

- Bichette, who was hitless and got picked off at first after leading off the third with a walk, broke out of his homer slump by clobbering a high, hanging Parker curveball 409 feet into the Mets' bullpen in left. It was his first extra-base hit in 71 at-bats since his last homer 17 games ago against the Nats. He finished 3-for-6 with a walk, adding a 12th-inning single and then later a double.

- Austin Warren was first out of the Mets’ bullpen that was handed a lead and delivered a 1-2-3 fifth and got around a leadoff walk for a clean sixth, lowering his ERA to 0.61 on the year. 

Things didn’t start well for Brooks Raley in the seventh: A sweeper over the plate that Wood went for a double into the right field corner and back-to-back walks put the go-ahead run on first and brought pitching coach Justin Willard to the mound. Raley traded two outs for a run, with CJ Abrams lining a sac fly line to the edge of the track in center and Daylen Lile popping out on the infield. 

Tobias Myers got the call to put out the fire, and after issuing the Mets’ seventh walk of the night to load the bases, he blew a high fastball past Jose Tena to preserve the lead. Myers couldn't hold the lead in the eighth: Wood smoked a two-out single to right and came around to score when Curtis Mead got a fastball in and shot it into the right-center gap for a game-tying double. 

Luke Weaver, looking to extend the game in the ninth, allowed a single through the right side of the infield to Abrams and hit Joey Wiemer to put two on with one out. But a strikeout and a pop-out on the infield sent the game to the 10th.

Huascar Brazobán cleanly fielded the bunt to start the 10th and got the out at first. After walking Wood to put runners on the corners, Carlos Mendoza came out to talk strategy. Brazobán would walk the bases loaded, forcing the infield to come in against the speedy Nasim Nuñez. But the Mets escaped: Vientos fielded a hard-hit grounder to cut down the runner at the plate and Brazobán got Abrams to swing through at a pitch off the outside corner to leave the bases loaded.

It would be Brazobán, who threw just 11 pitches in the eventful previous inning to try and get the win, but he was burned by soft contact as a comebacker advanced the runner and an infield single tied the game. After a fielder's choice on a heads-up play by Baty cut down the runner at second, Vivas ripped a double to put two in scoring position. A bouncer to Brujan at short ended the threat.

Craig Kimbrel had to wait around a while to pitch the bottom of the 12th and allowed an RBI single to Wood and then a two-out double, but got the final out, closing the game in a breezy 4:08 and stranding two more in scoring position for good measure. 

- Christian Scott, who tossed a 13-pitch, 1-2-3, first inning, struck out the first two batters in the second before drilling Jacob Young with a 2-2 93 mph heater in the ribs, forcing Washington’s center fielder and Scott's teammate at Florida out of the game. Scott would for that mistake: He left a 0-2 cutter over the plate to Tena, who grooved it for an RBI double into the left-center gap, walked Vivas, and, after a mound visit, gave up an RBI single to center when Tena. A third strikeout ended the frame with New York down 2-1.

Scott got stung with two down again in the third, after a one-out single and a two-out walk, the starter left a heater up and away to Wiemer, who slammed it for an RBI double to right. Scott would strand two in scoring position (thanks to Lile tumbling around third on the double, preventing him from scoring) to limit the damage.

After throwing 52 pitches to get the last six outs, Scott surrendered a one-out walk but got a scoreless fourth with another strikeout to close his day. His final line 4.0 innings, three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts on 81 pitches (49 strikes). His ERA stands at 4.12 for the year.

- Benge fell behind 0-2 but stuck with it to rip a fastball up in the zone the other way for a single to lead off the game. He smashed a liner his second time up (97.7 mph off the bat), but right at the first baseman to end the second. The rookie finished 3-for-6 with a walk and three runs batted in.

- Soto took what the Nats defense gave him: dropping a bunt down the third base line for a one-out single to put two men on, but was left standing. He finished 2-for-5 with a strikeout and two intentional walks.

- Torrens bounced a ball to first to start the fifth and saw it bounce under Luis Garcia Jr.’s glove for an error, the Nats' 46th of the year and third of the night. He ended up 1-for-3 with an RBI. MJ Melendez pinch-hit for the catcher in the ninth and weakly grounded out to the pitcher.

- Ewing was a tough-luck strikeout victim his first time up when third base umpire Chris Segal called him out on a check swing. He got himself a single the other way with two down in the 11th to finish 2-for-6 with a pair of strikeouts.

- Vientos was hitless in five times up with a strikeout.

Highlights 

Upcoming schedule

The Mets and Nats are back in action again for a 6:45 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday night.

Nolan McLean (2.92 ERA, 0.955 WHIP in 52.1 innings) gets the start for the visitors. Left-hander Foster Griffin (3.53 ERA, 1.137 WHIP in 51.0 innings) starts for Washington