National Disaster

Nationals 9 Mets 6 (Nationals Park, Washington D.C.)

Mets record: 21-27

Mets streak: Lost 1

WP-Foster Griffin (5-2)

LP-Nolan McLean (2-3)

Seat on the Korner: James Wood

We select a Star of the Game and virtually invite him to take his Seat on the Korner — just as Ralph Kiner did on WOR-TV Channel 9 during the early days of the New York Mets.

Continuing the tradition of Rheingold Beer sponsoring Kiner’s Korner, this season every seat is proudly presented by The Main Event Restaurant & Sports Bar.

With locations in Plainview and Farmingdale, The Main Event features 80+ HD TVs, fresh daily seafood, and Black Angus certified steaks—so you never have to choose between great food and the big game.

When James Wood led off the bottom of the first with a single, it seemed like a relatively meaningless hit. Instead, it was the beginning of a 3-hit, 2 runs scored, 4 RBI night, that was enough to earn him a Seat on the Korner.

Wood's leadoff single came with the Nationals down 3-0. This meant the Mets had scored 14 runs in their last 3 innings. With Nolan McLean on the mound and a 3-0 lead, the Mets confidence was understandably riding high.

Then, somehow, with 2 outs in the bottom of the second and the score 5-0, that all came to crashing halt. Three straight singles brought Wood up with the bases loaded. And, well, this...

Yes, that was an inside the park grand slam (the first in the majors since 2022). Yes, the Mets were still winning after that hit. No, Wood wasn't done. In the top of the 4th, with the Mets now down 7-5, Wood led off with a single and would eventually take advantage of a couple of Mets errors to score.

Need to Know

• Prior to the game, the Mets designated outfielder Austin Slater for assignment, and called up Nick Morabito to make his major league debut.

• Nolan McLean had his worst start in the majors tonight, giving up 9 runs (6 earned) in 5.2 innings, 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. His ERA jumped from 2.92 to 3.57.

• The Mets have now given up 5 grand slams this year, the most in the league.

• The Mets are 11-6 in May and have won four of their last five series. Mets are in a stretch where they are playing 10 of 13 games against NL East opponents.

• Juan Soto hit his team-leading 7th home run of the season. It was the 251st of his career, as well as his 52nd home run in Nationals Park.

• Marcus Semien's first inning sac-fly was his 13th RBI with runners in scoring position.

• Relief pitcher Daniel Duarte made his first appearance with the Mets. It was also his first MLB appearance since 2024. He pitched 2.1 innings, giving up one hit, with one strikeout and no walks.

• Mets are calling up LH pitching prospect Zach Thornton to replace Clay Holmes on the roster. Thornton will make his Major League debut Wednesday when he will start (or behind an opener) against the Nationals. After making 5 starts for Double-A Binghamton (0-2, 3.60 ERA, 27 Ks and 9 BB in 25 IP), the 24-year old made two starts for Triple-A Syracuse ( 1-1, 2.25 ERA, 13 Ks in 12 IP).

  
  

Turning Point

As demoralizing as the James Wood inside-the-park grand slam may have been, the Mets still entered the bottom of the 4th inning with a 5-4 lead. Jose Tena stepped to the plate, and that changed pretty quickly.

The solo HR tied the game, while cementing the momentum shift. By the end of the third inning, the Nationals would be up 7-5, and they would never look back.

Three Keys

More About Morabito

Nick Morabito, the newest member of the Mets roster, was the team's 2022 compensatory draft pick for the Angels signing Noah Syndergaard. He grew up in Vienna, VA, about a half hour from Washington, D.C. In 41 games at Triple-A this year, Morabito had a .754 OPS, with 6 doubles, a triple, 4 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 17 RBIs.

The Mets issued Morabito a number 8 jersey upon his arrival, best known as Gary Carter's uniform number when he was with the team. Morabio was the first player to wear that number since Desi Relaford in 2001. More to the point, no player has worn the number since Carter was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Morabito will be wearing the number 55 beginning on Wednesday.

In his debut game, Morabito went 0-3 with a line out, 2 strike outs, and a hit-by-pitch. He also made a beautiful catch on a foul ball off the bat of Jorbert Vivas.

Bonus

While it has seemed that every good Bo Bichette game in 2026 has been a false alarm, he may truly be out of his slump now. One night after a home run ended a 70+ at-bat extra base hit drought, the Mets infielder launched two 2-run home runs in back-to-back innings. Bichette now leads the team in RBIs with 25.

Not everything was coming up Bo tonight, though. Bichette was charged with a throwing error on a play at the plate allowed the Nationals 8th and 9th runs to come hom.

More to Come

Carson Benge had three more hits tonight. He has now recorded multiple hits in 6 of this last 8 games, and has hit safely in 13 of this last 15. Over his last 24 games, Benge is batting .360 (32-89), with 19 runs, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 14 RBIs, 5 walks, and 2 stolen bases.