NEW YORK — The New York Mets held off a late rally to defeat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on June 12, 2025, at Citi Field, improving their record to 45-24 and solidifying their lead in the NL East. The Nationals, now 30-38, fell short despite a ninth-inning surge. Jeff McNeil’s three-run homer and Brandon Nimmo’s solo shot powered the Mets, while the Nationals’ James Wood and Luis García Jr. fueled a comeback attempt.
The Mets struck first in the opening inning when McNeil homered off Nationals starter Michael Soroka, scoring Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto for a 3-0 lead. “Jeff McNeil homers (7) on a fly ball to right field. Francisco Lindor scores. Juan Soto scores,” the sports card above noted. Nimmo added a solo homer in the fifth, extending the lead to 4-0. The Nationals remained scoreless until the ninth, when CJ Abrams singled, Wood singled to advance him, and García Jr. drove in Abrams with a single. “Luis García Jr. singles on a ground ball to right fielder Juan Soto, deflected by first baseman Pete Alonso. CJ Abrams scores,” the play-by-play recorded. Josh Bell’s single scored Wood, and a passed ball by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez allowed García Jr. to score, narrowing the gap to 4-3.
Mets starter Kodai Senga earned the win, improving to 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Edwin Díaz secured his 15th save, navigating the tense ninth. Soroka took the loss for Washington, falling to 3-4 with a 5.14 ERA after allowing four runs over five innings. Wood led the Nationals with three hits, while Nimmo had two for the Mets. The game, attended by 39,779 fans, lasted 2 hours and 38 minutes under sunny skies with temperatures at 87 degrees.
The Nationals’ defense struggled with a throwing error by Abrams, and they left five runners on base, going 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Mets capitalized on baserunning, with Soto and Tyrone Taylor each stealing a base, though Starling Marte was caught stealing. Both teams executed double plays, with the Nationals’ infield turning one in the seventh. For detailed statistics, see the sports card above.
The Mets’ victory highlights their offensive depth and pitching strength, while the Nationals showed resilience but couldn’t overcome early deficits. The teams are set to continue their series, with Washington aiming to even the score.
