The Mets extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday night, as dominance from David Peterson and home-run power throughout the lineup lifted them to an 8-1 road win over the division-rival Nationals.
Here are the takeaways…
— While the Mets' first round of at-bats against Nationals starter Jake Irvin didn't inflict any damage, their second round of looks at the plate left a sizable dent. After a one-out double from Francisco Lindor and a walk from Juan Soto in the third inning, Brandon Nimmo broke the ice with an RBI single to left-center that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Then, with two outs and two runners in scoring position, Jeff McNeil stretched the lead to three with a sharp double down the right-field line.
— Mark Vientos hasn't resembled an everyday player this season, but for a second straight game, he provided some welcomed pop. Behind in the count, he extended the Mets' third-inning rally to five runs by clobbering a hanging curve into the left field seats for a two-run homer. The 419-foot blast was No. 9 on the season for Vientos, who's driven in six across his last eight at-bats.
— David Peterson sought to prove that his implosion last week was an aberration, and by all accounts, he did just that. The Mets' left-hander pounded the zone early, facing the minimum through the first four innings with four strikeouts. He also needed just 41 pitches to complete those frames, making it the most efficient start to an outing in his career thus far. Peterson maintained his groove in the fifth, inducing two groundouts and a punchout to put his pitch count to an economical 52.
— Brett Baty, manning the hot corner, increased the Mets' lead to 6-0 in the sixth with a mammoth first-pitch, leadoff homer off Irvin that traveled 428 feet and landed in the second deck in right-center. Then, in the seventh, Soto joined the homer party with an opposite-field blast to left off reliever Konnor Pilkington that bumped the Mets' cushion to seven. It was Soto's 51st career dinger at Nationals Park, and he's now hitting .281 with 10 RBI across his last 15 games.
— Peterson was at risk of losing a streak of 23.1 scoreless innings against the Nationals in the sixth, when he allowed a leadoff double and a one-out single that set up runners on the corners. But the Mets' southpaw left the mound unscathed, striking out budding slugger James Wood and getting young star CJ Abrams to fly out to center. Over the Mets' last 60 games, Peterson has registered nine starts of six-plus innings — no other rotation arm has even achieved this feat once.
— After retiring the Nationals in order in the seventh at 80 total pitches, the Mets allowed Peterson to come back out for the eighth and continue his shutout bid. But a leadoff triple from Dylan Crews and a walk to Andres Chaparro doomed his 25.1 scoreless streak, as the Nationals wound up scoring their first run on a double-play groundout. Peterson still completed the frame, producing a season-high 10 strikeouts and nine groundouts on 96 pitches.
— McNeil placed the Mets back ahead by seven in the ninth, smacking a solo shot to right-center off reliever Jackson Rutledge. The bottom half of the inning belonged to Ryne Stanek, who induced a groundout, flyout, and popout to put a bow on the Mets' well-rounded performance.
Game MVP: David Peterson
Peterson couldn't produce a second complete-game shutout against the Nationals this season, but he once again shoved as the Mets' most reliable starter. He also remains the only rotation arm to throw a pitch in the eighth inning this season.
Highlights
A pair of first inning strikeouts for David Peterson pic.twitter.com/fsfrqPuDpU
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
Francisco Lindor rips a double! pic.twitter.com/NXgi3MRNK1
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
Brandon Nimmo brings home the first run of the game with an RBI single! pic.twitter.com/dMfhy4y4v4
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
Jeff McNeil rips a double to bring home two more!
3-0 Mets! pic.twitter.com/2RfJaHOBZN— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
MARK VIENTOS DRIVES A TWO-RUN HOMER!
He's homered in back-to-back games and the Mets have put up a 5 spot in the 3rd! pic.twitter.com/pVfqKVigns— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
Brett Baty destroys one to the second deck at Nationals Park! pic.twitter.com/Yh9zFV1oPP
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 19, 2025
David Peterson escapes the jam to keep the Nationals scoreless through 6 innings pic.twitter.com/iIUpC2qRre
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 20, 2025
Juan Soto with his 51st career home run at Nationals Park! pic.twitter.com/2XiJu2gLxz
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 20, 2025
2 more strikeouts for David Peterson in the 7th inning and he's up to 9 for the game! pic.twitter.com/jequxw9Lnk
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 20, 2025
Jeff McNeil with his 10th homer of the season! pic.twitter.com/wfeZUqsyF3
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 20, 2025
What's next
The Mets (67-58) will look to extend their winning streak to four games on Wednesday, with first pitch in D.C. scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
RHP Kodai Senga (7-4, 2.35 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite RHP Brad Lord (3-6, 3.26 ERA).