Mets tumble to 17th loss in 20 games, Nationals win 5-4 on Abrams' go-ahead, 2-run homer in 8th

NEW YORK (AP) — CJ Abrams hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Washington Nationals beat the Mets 5-4 Thursday, dealing reeling New York its 17th loss in 20 games.

James Wood robbed Juan Soto of a home run with a leaping catch at the right-field wall in the first inning and Washington dropped the Mets to a major league-worst 10-21. New York's .323 winning percentage through April is its fourth-lowest behind starts in 1962 (3-13), 1964 (2-10) and 1981 (4-10).

New York, which opened with the season with the major leagues' highest payroll at $358.4 million, went 3-6 on its homestand and headed to California for a nine-game trip.

After overcoming a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead on MJ Melendez's three-run homer in the third off Miles Mikolas and Mark Vientos' RBI double in the sixth against Mitchell Parker (1-0), the Mets lost a game in which they were ahead for the 10th time this year.

Luis García Jr. singled on the first pitch of the eighth from Luke Weaver (2-1) and Daylen Lile beat out the relay throw to avoid a double-play grounder. Abrams drove a hanging changeup 403 feet to right-center.

Gus Varland got four outs for his second save. He retired Tyrone Taylor on a flyout in the eighth that stranded Soto on second and struck out Ronny Mauricio on a full-count slider for the final out with Francisco Alvarez at second.

Washington went ahead 2-0 in the first. Jorbit Vivas raced home from first after pitcher Freddy Peralta threw the ball wildly past first on Nasim Nuñez’s comebacker and Nuñez came home on Jacob Young’s single. Abrams added an RBI single in the third.

Nationals: RHP Jake Irvin (1-3, 4.85) starts Friday against visiting Milwaukee and RHP Jacob Misiorowski (1-2, 3.31).

Mets: RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 6.75) starts Friday at the Los Angeles Angels, who send RHP Walbert Ureña (0-3, 4.76) to the mound.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' James Wood (29) catches a ball hit by New York Mets' Juan Soto for an out during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' James Wood makes a leaping catch at the wall on a ball hit by New York Mets' Juan Soto during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams, center, celebrates with first base coach Corey Ray, left, as he runs the bases after hitting a two run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets pitcher Luke Weaver, left, reacts as Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams runs the bases after hitting a two run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Jorbit Vivas (84) and CJ Abrams (5) celebrates with James Wood and Jacob Young after a baseball game against the New York Mets Thursday, April 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson had grand slams to help the Baltimore Orioles cruise to a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday.

Chris Bassitt (2-2) pitched 6 2/3 innings for his longest outing of the season and allowed one run on seven hits. He struck one seven and walked one.

Rutschman fell behind Steven Okert 0-2 with one out in the fifth, but evened the count and hit a shot to left center. Center fielder Brice Matthews made a leap at the wall and the ball was briefly in his glove but fell out when he made contact.

In the seventh, with a run in on a bases-loaded walk, Jackson homered to left center off Jason Alexander to make it 10-1.

It was Rustchman's third career grand slam and Jackson's second, both coming this season. Jackson also had an RBI double and Rutschman added a single. It was the eighth time in St. Louis Browns/Orioles franchise history the team hit multiple grand slams in one game and the first since Steve Clevenger and Nolan Reimold in 2015.

Isaac Paredes had three hits each for the Astros, who have lost four of five.

The Orioles were hitless against Houston starter Peter Lambert until the fourth when Jackson’s two-out double down the left-field line scored Pete Alonso, who had walked.

Lambert (1-2) gave up two runs on two hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Baltimore's Blaze Alexander started the fifth-inning rally when he challenged a strike-three call with one out. The strike call was overturned by ABS and Alexander doubled, ending Lambert's afternoon.

Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said before the games Thursday that left-hander Trevor Rogers, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, has the flu.

Houston RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75) faces Baltimore RHP Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53) in Game 2.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Houston Astros pitcher Jason Alexander delivers during the seventh inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson (82) celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam during the seventh inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Jeremiah Jackson hits a grand slam during the seventh inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) celebrates with third base coach Buck Britton (46) after hitting a grand slam during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman (35) hits a grand slam during the fifth inning in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)