Mets beat Nationals 7-3 for seventh straight win

Patrick Stevens, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor homered to guide the New York Mets to a 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Max Scherzer defeated his former team and the Mets posted their seventh straight win, less than 24 hours from ace Jacob deGrom’s debut this season.

Juan Soto slammed a long ball past Scherzer in what could be his last game as a Nationals. He walked one in his other three plate appearances.

Several of Soto’s teammates could also leave the Nationals, which hold the worst record in the Majors (35-69) and have lost four of their last five outings. Teams have until 6 p.m. Tuesday to make a deal.

The Mets, first in the National’s East Division, could add parts before the deadline, but their biggest addition will be deGrom. The two-time Cy-Young Trophy winner hasn’t pitched in Major League Baseball since July 2021.

Jeff McNeil, Tomás Nido and Starling Marte all had a one-run single in the second inning against Nationals starter Patrick Corbin (4-15). Alonso hit his 27th homer of the campaign, an inning later.

It’s Alonso’s fifth career homer against Corbin, which is his highest total against a single pitcher. He has a .382 batting average against left-hander.

Lindor added a three-run slap in the sixth inning against reliever Steve Cishek. The Mets improved to 9-2 against the Nationals this season.

Scherzer (7-2) won the Cy-Young Trophy twice with the Nationals and helped Washington win the 2019 World Series before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Scherzer allowed three runs, two of which were earned, in six and two-thirds innings of work. He passed five opponents in the mitt.

Corbin, who leads the Majors in losses, allowed four runs and seven hits in four-and-a-third innings on the mound. He’s lost his last five starts, posting a 10.29 ERA during that tough streak.