Bo Bichette drives in 2, Mets earn series split with a 2-1 win over the Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bo Bichette hit a two-run single, David Peterson earned his first victory as a starter this season, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 2-1 Thursday to earn a four-game series split.

New York avoided its first three-game skid since April 24-26 in winning for the seventh time in 10 games.

Washington slipped to 25-26 and failed to move above .500 this deep into a season for the first time since it was 40-39 on July 1, 2021.

Peterson (3-4) escaped early trouble against the Nationals, who entered the game averaging a MLB-leading 5.58 runs. He escaped a bases-loaded threat in the first and worked out of a two-on jam in the second.

Washington had two runners in scoring position with no outs in the fifth, but managed only an RBI groundout by Andrés Chaparro.

Peterson, making his first start since an April 29 loss to Washington, allowed one run and four hits in five innings while striking out three. The 30-year-old left-hander, who is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in a bulk relief role, lowered his ERA as a starter from 8.10 to 6.99.

Devin Williams allowed Daylen Lile’s bloop double to open the ninth, but retired the next three batters for his seventh save in eight chances.

After Washington starter Cade Cavalli (2-3) retired the first seven batters he face, New York loaded the bases on a hit batter, an infield single and a lined single to left in a four-pitch span in the third inning. Bichette then laced a two-run single to center on the first pitch to make it 2-0.

Bichette hit .389 (7 for 18) with three homers and nine RBIs in the series.

Cavalli, who matched his career high with seven innings, allowed two runs and four hits while striking out nine.

New York RHP Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.31 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series at Miami on Friday.

RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 6.91) faces Atlanta as Washington begins a six-game trip Friday.

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

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' Luis Torrens (13) comes in to score on a single by Bo Bichette during the third inning of a baseball game next to Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli (24) and catcher Keibert Ruiz (20), Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets pitcher David Peterson throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Mets' Bo Bichette drives in two runs with a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications, according to a statement released by his family.

Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, said in a news release the family received the medical evaluation on Saturday.

Busch, a two-time NASCAR champion, died at 41 on Thursday, a day after passing out in a Chevrolet simulator.

Sepsis is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when the body has an extreme, overactive response to an infection, causing the immune system to damage its own tissues and organs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Typically the immune system releases chemicals to fight off pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi, but with sepsis the response goes into overdrive. The results can cause widespread inflammation, form microscopic blood clots and make blood vessels leak.

Busch was thought to have had a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and radioed in to his team saying that he needed a “shot” from a doctor after the race.

However, he bounced back to win the Trucks Series race at Dover last weekend, and then he finished 17th in the All-Star race on Sunday.

Busch, who was preparing to race Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

During the emergency call placed late that afternoon, an unidentified caller calmly told the dispatch: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

The caller said Busch was lying on the bathroom floor inside the complex and told dispatch “he is awake,” according to audio provided by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office. The man then gave directions on where emergency responders should go and asked that they turn off any sirens upon arrival.

NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski said he knew Busch wasn’t feeling well recently.

“Yes, but I won’t go into any specifics," Keselowski said. “But then when he ran the Truck race last week, those (thoughts) were honestly kind of erased in my mind.”

Keselowski said running multiple races on the same weekend can be difficult on a driver's health — but most don't want to miss a race for fear of being replaced.

“There’s no shortage of drivers that would love to take my seat or anybody else’s seat if we weren’t feeling well, and I think every driver feels that pressure,” Keselowski said. “All athletes do. It’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. We’re all thinking to ourselves, ‘I don’t wanna be replaced.’ ... So you try to power through it the best you can."

Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three series over his two-decade career, more than any driver in history.

All 39 drivers in the field for Sunday’s race will race with a black No. 8 decal on their car to honor Busch.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

FILE - Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)