Nationals eviscerate Mets in dominant victory

Thursday, April 30, 2026

The Washington Nationals dominated the New York Mets with a strong offensive performance, highlighted by Keibert House's first career grand slam, leading to a lopsided win at Nationals Park. This victory underscores the Nationals' growing consistency and potential, especially as young players like House emerge to solidify key positions.

The Washington Nationals delivered a commanding performance against the New York Mets on Wednesday, overwhelming their opponents and securing a decisive victory at Nationals Park. The Nationals seized control early and never relinquished the lead, ultimately routing the Mets with a strong offensive display.

Mets starter Max Peterson, who has faced the Nationals 14 times since his 2020 debut and had allowed just 20 earned runs over 72 2/3 innings against them, struggled significantly in this outing. The Nationals capitalized on their reputation as a team that consistently scores in the first inning, jumping ahead quickly. James Wood and Curtis Mead led off with consecutive singles, followed by RBI hits from CJ Abrams and Jacob Young to establish an early lead.

The Nationals intensified their assault in the fourth inning. With Jacob Young on base after a walk and Daylen Lile reaching with a single, Joey Wiemer added an RBI single. A walk to Nasim Nuñez loaded the bases, and another walk to James Wood brought in another run, prompting Peterson’s removal after 3 2/3 innings.

Sean Manaea entered in relief for the Mets but immediately hit Curtis Mead with a pitch, extending the Nationals’ lead to 5-1. The inning reached a climax when Keibert House stepped to the plate and connected on a 385-foot pitch to center field, delivering his first career grand slam and pushing the score to 9-1. House, the Nationals’ 2021 first-round draft pick, has faced challenges since his 2025 debut, batting just .234 in 73 games last season. The team views him as a cornerstone at third base, a position that has lacked stability since the tenures of Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon.

Despite his youth and limited major league experience, House showed signs of growth beyond the grand slam. He drew a walk in the sixth inning—his ninth of the season, surpassing his total from last year in only 29 games—setting up Abrams for a run-scoring single. The Nationals continued to pile on runs in the seventh, with a two-run double from Wood and an RBI single by Young extending their advantage.

Curtis Mead finished the night with four hits, including a home run in the ninth inning. Except for catcher Keibert Ruiz, every Nationals starter recorded at least one hit, underscoring the team’s balanced offensive effort. The decisive victory highlighted the Nationals’ progress and their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities against a struggling Mets pitching staff.