The Washington Nationals delivered a dominant performance against the New York Mets on Wednesday, securing a 14-2 victory and signaling a turnaround for both the team and several key players. The Nationals rebounded notably after an 8-0 loss to the Mets in Tuesday’s series opener at Citi Field in New York.

Cade Cavalli was the standout on the mound, pitching six innings while allowing just two runs. His line featured eight hits and 10 strikeouts, matching his career high from his previous start. Cavalli also became the first Nationals pitcher since Max Scherzer in 2020 to record double-digit strikeouts in consecutive games. Though he faced early adversity, requiring 30 pitches to escape a bases-loaded situation in the first inning, Cavalli managed to settle in and maintain control throughout his outing.

Manager Blake Butera praised Cavalli’s performance, noting the effectiveness of his pitching and the importance of his innings in the overall team effort. “The stuff looked great all the way through and was huge for us getting through six,” Butera said after the game.

Offensively, the Nationals received contributions across the lineup, highlighted by Brady House’s grand slam. House, who had struggled early in the season and historically faced difficulty against Mets left-hander David Peterson, showcased resilience in his at-bats. The grand slam provided a momentum boost as the Nationals broke open the game.

In addition to House and Cavalli, Juan Soto and MJ Melendez each drove in runs, with Soto hitting a solo homer in the third inning and Melendez delivering an RBI single in the fifth. The team’s collective effort was evident as they produced 14 runs against a Mets pitching staff that had limited them in previous outings.

House emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining a short memory after the heavy loss on Tuesday. “I think we just take it day by day,” House said. “We don’t let the past affect us, we come out and battle the best we can and do what we can with what we have in the lineup.”

With the Nationals holding a lead in the series heading into Thursday’s game, Wednesday’s performance offers a promising sign of ongoing improvement for a club that has struggled in recent matchups against the Mets and is looking to build momentum this season.