Bichette drives – Bo Bichette hit a two-run single, David Peterson won his first start of the season, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 on Thursday to split the four-game series. Peterson survived early threats, the Mets avoided their first three-game skid
WASHINGTON — Bo Bichette’s two-run single changed the feel of the game in the third inning, and the New York Mets held on from there.
It finished 2-1 on Thursday as Bichette drove in two, David Peterson earned his first victory as a starter this season, and New York secured a four-game series split against the Washington Nationals.
For the Mets, the win mattered more than the scoreline. It snapped a sour stretch — New York avoided its first three-game skid since April 24-26, during which the team had struggled to find any rhythm.
The Nationals, meanwhile, were left stuck below the line that defines this late-season moment. Washington slipped to 25-26 and failed to move above .500 this deep into the season for the first time since it was 40-39 on July 1, 2021.
Peterson, going (3-4), got pulled into early trouble and refused to let it snowball. The Nationals entered averaging a MLB-leading 5.58 runs, but he escaped a bases-loaded threat in the first inning and then worked out of a two-on jam in the second.
In the fifth, Washington put two runners in scoring position with no outs — a chance to flip the game’s leverage. The Mets didn’t crack. The Nationals managed only an RBI groundout by Andrés Chaparro.
Peterson’s night ended after five innings with one run allowed and four hits, along with three strikeouts. The 30-year-old left-hander was making his first start since an April 29 loss to Washington. and he lowered his ERA as a starter from 8.10 to 6.99. He’d been 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in a bulk relief role before taking the ball Thursday.
New York scored in a burst that felt like a slow build turning suddenly into a punch. After Washington starter Cade Cavalli retired the first seven batters he faced. the Mets loaded the bases with a hit batter. an infield single. and a lined single to left in a four-pitch span. On the first pitch after that, Bichette laced a two-run single to center to make it 2-0.
Cavalli matched his career high with seven innings. He allowed two runs and four hits while striking out nine.
When the ninth arrived, Devin Williams had to work for the last out of it. Daylen Lile’s bloop double opened the inning, but Williams retired the next three batters for his seventh save in eight chances.
Bichette’s impact didn’t stop at one swing. In the series, he hit .389 (7 for 18) with three homers and nine RBIs.
Looking ahead, the Mets will turn to Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.31 ERA) as he starts the opener of a three-game series at Miami on Friday.
Washington counters with Miles Mikolas (1-3, 6.91) as the Nationals begin a six-game trip on Friday, with the matchup against Atlanta first on the schedule.
Mets Nationals Bo Bichette David Peterson Devin Williams Cade Cavalli Freddy Peralta Miles Mikolas MLB results