Mets 8, Nationals 7
WASHINGTON -- Pinch-hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a pinch-hit solo homer with two outs in the eighth off Jonathan Papelbon as the first-place New York Mets came back from a six-run deficit to stun the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Tuesday.
The Mets (77-61) extended their lead to six games over the Nationals (71-67) as they beat Washington for the fifth time in a row. It was the first career pinch-hit homer for Nieuwenhuis, who was 2-for-18 as a pinch-hitter this year before parking a pitch from Papelbon into the right field seats.
Nieuwenhuis last homered on July 12 and has four homers this year in 83 at-bats. He came off the disabled list Sept. 1 after having neck and left shoulder discomfort.
The homer capped an improbable comeback as the Mets had scored six runs in the seventh to the game at 7-7.
Shortstop Wilmer Flores had an RBI single against reliever Blake Treinen. Right fielder Curtis Granderson walked with the bases loaded off Felipe Rivero to trim the margin to 7-3. Yoenis Cespedes then lined a three-run double down the left field line with two outs off Drew Storen to cut the margin to 7-6.
After two more walks, Mets first baseman Lucas Duda then drew another off Storen with the bases loaded to tie the game at 7.
The momentum appeared to be on the side of Washington after center fielder Michael A. Taylor had a "Little League" grand slam in the sixth to give the Nationals a 7-1 lead.
With the bases loaded and with one out against Mets starter Matt Harvey, Taylor hit a sharp single up the middle to score third baseman Yunel Escobar (three hits) and give the Nationals a 4-1 lead.
Mets center fielder Cespedes let the ball get past him and it rolled to the warning track as first baseman Clint Robinson, shortstop Ian Desmond and Taylor all came around to score. Taylor was credited with one RBI on his single while the error by Cespedes allowed the other three runners to cross the plate and up the margin to 7-1.
The hit by Taylor knocked Harvey out of the game. In perhaps one of his last outings of the year due to a possible innings limit, Harvey gave up a career-high seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed one run and three hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
The winning pitcher was Addison Reed (3-2) while Papelbon fell to 3-2.
Tyler Clippard pitched a scoreless eighth for the Mets and closer Jeurys Familia pitched the ninth for his 38th save and got Escobar to hit into a double play to end the game.
Robinson, a replacement for the injured Ryan Zimmerman, had two hits, one RBI and a walk. Second baseman Anthony Rendon and left fielder Jayson Werth had two hits for Washington. Mets third baseman David Wright had two hits.
NOTES: Mets RHP Jacob de Grom (12-7, 2.40) will pitch Wednesday in the series finale against Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (8-6, 4.35) ... Mets INF Lucas Duda, who came off the disabled list Monday, was in the starting lineup on Tuesday at first base ... New York called up RHP Logan Verrett, INF Dilson Herrera and C Johnny Monell from Triple-A Las Vegas. Manager Terry Collins said RHP Carlos Torres, who injured a calf muscle Monday, would be out at least "one to two weeks." He is 5-6 with a 4.45 ERA in 55 games out of the bullpen ... Washington 1B Ryan Zimmerman was out of the starting lineup Tuesday with an "oblique soreness," according to manager Matt Williams. Zimmerman (.249, 16 homers) hurt himself on a swing in Monday's game but played all nine innings, Williams said.