Martinez and Iglesias homer in 6-run 10th and Mets hold off Nationals 9-7 to spoil Wood's debut
New York Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates after his three-run homer during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez and Jose Iglesias homered in a six-run 10th inning, and the New York Mets held off the Washington Nationals 9-7 on Monday night to spoil the major league debut of prized outfield prospect James Wood.
Francisco Alvarez had three RBIs and two extra-base hits for the Mets (41-41), who stopped a two-game skid and improved to 17-6 in their last 23 games.
In the opener of a four-game series between NL East foes, Harrison Bader was hit by pitch leading off the 10th to put two runners on. Martinez followed with his 10th homer, a drive to center field against Hunter Harvey (2-4).
New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez celebrates his two-RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Tyrone Taylor doubled and scored on Alvarez's first career triple, which hit high off the right-field wall. Iglesias made it 9-3 when he sent a two-run shot to center for his first big league homer since July 13, 2022, with Colorado.
New York Mets' Harrison Bader, right, steals second as Washington Nationals second baseman Ildemaro Vargas waits for the throw during the sixth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington scored four times in the bottom half before Reed Garrett struck out Luis García Jr. with two on for his fourth save.
Tyler Jay allowed an RBI double to Jesse Winker and a two-run double by Ildemaro Vargas. Garrett came on and gave up an RBI single to Keibert Ruiz before fanning Garcia.
Washington Nationals' James Wood jogs back to the dugout during the thirrd inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Jake Diekman (2-2) pitched a hitless ninth for the win, helped by a game-saving catch from Taylor in right field.
New York Mets right fielder Tyrone Taylor makes an error on a ball hit by Washington Nationals' Joey Meneses during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Immediately following a two-out error by CJ Abrams at shortstop, Alvarez laced a two-run double in the sixth that gave New York a 3-2 lead.
The Nationals tied it 3-all in the eighth. Winker came all the way around from first when a bloop hit to right by Joey Meneses bounced past Taylor for an RBI double.
Meneses had two hits and two RBIs for Washington, which has lost six of seven.
Washington’s top prospect, the 21-year-old Wood was called up from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day. He singled in his first plate appearance and later reached on an error, finishing 1 for 4 with a walk. A native of nearby Olney, Maryland, Wood was acquired in the August 2022 blockbuster trade that sent Juan Soto to San Diego.
Washington Nationals' James Wood, left, reacts after notching a base hit in his first major league at-bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
After receiving a standing ovation from the crowd of 26,719 in the bottom of the second, Wood fell behind 1-2, worked the count full and then lined an opposite-field single into left-center. He struck out in the fourth, grounded out in the seventh and reached on Diekman's two-base throwing error in the ninth.
One of baseball's highest-rated prospects, the 6-foot-7, 234-pound Wood was hitting .353 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs and a 1.058 OPS in the minors.
The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Harold Ramírez and Meneses.
With two outs in the sixth, Derek Law came on to face Mark Vientos, who singled to score Bader. Taylor then hit grounder that went between Abrams’ legs, and Alvarez followed with a two-run double to left-center.
New York starter David Peterson allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore permitted one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: OF Brandon Nimmo sat out after cutting his forehead when he fainted and fell in his hotel room overnight. New York manager Carlos Mendoza said Nimmo did not suffer a concussion and could return Tuesday. … RHP Kodai Senga (right shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment Wednesday with Class A Brooklyn and is scheduled to throw up to 40 pitches.
Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams celebrates with teammates after scoring during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Sean Manaea (5-3, 3.89 ERA) opposes Nationals LHP DJ Herz (1-2, 5.48) on Tuesday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, right, throws to first base after forcing out Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz (20) at second base during the second inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Harvey Valentine, The Associated Press
Washington Nationals' James Wood, left, reacts after notching a base hit in his first major league at-bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood, right, connects with a pitch during his first major league at-bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood drops his bat as he hits a single in his first major league at-bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Washington Nationals' James Wood hits a single in his first major league at-bat during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)