A.J. Ewing absolutely blasted a three-run homer in the top of the seventh today, flipping a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead for the Mets against the Nationals. You had to see it to believe it, because before that, the team had been totally flat, failing to score a single run in the first six innings. But Ewing’s shot wasn’t even the biggest highlight from this wild game, which saw the Mets put up five runs in their final three offensive innings.
Mauricio Goes Off From Both Sides
Right after Ewing’s game-changing blast, Ronny Mauricio stepped up and made it back-to-back homers, pushing the Mets’ lead to 4-1. Talk about a momentum swing! But Mauricio wasn’t done showing off. In the top of the ninth, he crushed *another* two-run shot, this time hitting right-handed. That’s two dingers in one game, one from each side of the plate! While those two bombs weren’t enough to magically fix his entire major league stat line for the season, what a way to end things. It really gives you a glimpse of the raw power and potential he brings to the lineup. Meanwhile, Brett Baty singled in the eighth, and a Nationals error on Nasim Nuñez allowed Carson Benge to score the team’s fifth run. Ewing’s three-run homer was clearly the biggest moment, adding +49% WPA for the team, while Baty striking out earlier was a bit of a downer at -8% WPA. Still, the offense collectively added +23% WPA, which is solid for a late-game surge.
Tong’s Final Statement and a Bullpen Masterclass
On the pitching side, Jonah Tong finished his season with a statement. In his final start, he gave up just one run, punched out nine batters, walked one, and allowed only three hits over five innings, throwing 87 pitches. For a guy who isn’t guaranteed a spot in the 2027 rotation, those are the numbers you want to see. His season finishes with a 3.82 ERA and a 3.30 FIP over 30.2 innings, which is definitely a step up from his 2025 call-up. You just gotta feel good about that kind of progress heading into the offseason. And the bullpen? Absolutely lights out. Dedniel Nuñez struck out three in a scoreless sixth, then Nate Lavender, Devin Williams, and Tobias Myers each threw a perfect, hitless inning. That’s a +27% WPA boost from the pitching staff!
It’s been a tough, disappointing season, no sugar coating it. We’re talking last place in the division, man. But with the season wrapping up tomorrow afternoon at 3:05 PM EDT, you can’t help but look at performances like Mauricio’s two homers and Tong’s strong finish and feel a little spark of hope. We’ll be longing for more Mets baseball soon enough, and after a finish like that, you gotta believe better results are coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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