Full Breakdown
Mets’ 12th-Inning Explosion Secures 16-7 Win Over Nationals
5/19/2026, 12:19:36 PM
Game Overview: Ten-Run 12th Sends Mets Soaring
On Monday night at Nationals Park, the New York Mets defeated Washington 16–7, scoring ten runs in the 12th inning. The outburst made the Mets the first National League club to tally ten or more runs in an extra inning since the 1919 Cincinnati Reds and the most in an extra frame since the Texas Rangers’ 12-run 15th inning on July 3, 1983.
Background: Rare Extra-Inning Scoring
Extra-inning rallies of this magnitude are historically scarce. Prior to this game, only the 1919 Reds and the 1983 Rangers had produced double-digit runs after regulation. The Mets entered the contest 6-4 in extra-inning games, the best record of any team in the 2026 season.
Key Players
Carson Benge delivered the go-ahead swing in three of the Mets’ extra-inning wins, adding an RBI single and a two-run double in the 12th. Brett Baty contributed a 451-foot solo homer and a two-run single. Bo Bichette supplied a solo homer in the seventh and a two-run double in the 12th. Rookie outfielder A.J. Ewing recorded an RBI single during the marathon inning. Washington’s Paxton Schultz earned his first career decision, while infielder Jorbit Vivas was pressed into pitching, a move later cleared by umpires.
Timeline of Scoring
- 1st Inning: Luis Torrens doubled, driving in Tyrone Taylor.
- 4th Inning: Brett Baty’s solo homer cleared center-field.
- 5th Inning: Juan Soto’s two-run single gave New York a 5-3 lead.
- 7th Inning: Bo Bichette homered, extending the lead to 7-5.
- 10th Inning: Huascar Brazobán escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep the game tied.
- 11th Inning: Both teams exchanged runs, tying the game at 11-11.
- 12th Inning: Mets scored five runs off reliever Paxton Schultz, then five more after Vivas entered as a position-player pitcher, sealing a 16-7 victory.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: 16–7 (Mets).
- Runs in 12th: 10 (most in an extra inning since 1983).
- Washington errors: 4; runners left on base: 19 (league-high).
- Mets extra-inning record: 6-4 (league best).
- Mets May record after game: 11-5.
Impact on Mets’ Season
The win pushed the Mets to 6-4 in extra-innings, reinforcing their reputation for late-game resilience. It also contributed to a May surge that improved their standing in the NL East, providing momentum heading into the series finale.
Official Statements & Responses
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza praised the club’s perseverance, noting the team “showed real resiliency” after a marathon contest. The organization highlighted the depth of the roster, citing contributions from both veterans and recent call-ups.
Criticism & Opposition
Washington’s four defensive miscues and the decision to place infielder Jorbit Vivas on the mound drew scrutiny. Umpires required several minutes to confirm the legality of the move, and critics argued the Nationals squandered multiple scoring opportunities, leaving 19 runners stranded.
On-the-Ground Reports
AP and ESPN recaps emphasized the game’s length (over four hours) and the dramatic shift in momentum during the 12th. Both outlets noted the Mets’ early lead, the back-and-forth through 11 innings, and the decisive extra-inning rally.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While ESPN details Benge’s RBI single, followed by Ewing’s RBI single and Benge’s two-run double, AmazinAvenue describes five runs off Schultz then five runs off Vivas without naming the individual hits. The precise order of the 12th-inning scoring therefore varies between accounts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was a really competitive ballgame the whole way through, and then we kind of broke it open there in the 12th,” — Brett Baty, Mets infielder (AP)
- “Really long game, but we battled,” — Brett Baty, Mets infielder (AP)
- “He’s a freak athlete.” — Andrew Christie, Mets Director of Player Development (Forbes)
- “Damn, A.J is so twitchy, man. He’s so twitchy.” — JT Schwartz, Mets farmhand (Forbes)
- “The youngster is remarkably level-headed, imploring that he does not have to change one iota of his game to make it in the majors.” — amny, Forbes writer (Forbes)
What’s Next
The Mets will start right-hander Nolan McLean (2-2) on Tuesday night against Washington’s left-hander Foster Griffin (4-2), continuing the three-game series.
