Nimmo comes back from hotel room scare to score 2 runs as Mets beat Nationals 7-2 in 10

Nimmo, who suffered a cut to his forehead in a fall Sunday night, entered the game in the fourth inning after Harrison Bader was removed after colliding with the right-center field wall. In the eighth, he drove in Francisco Lindor’s tying single and then was part of a series of hits against Robert Garcia (0-3) once the game went into overtime.

“I’m really enjoying the moments tonight… taking the big shots, savoring them because it’s not like this every day,” Nimmo said. “When things like that happen, it’s a new perspective on being able to play this game and being able to play it at this level on a daily basis. When you take that game away from you for a little while, you realize how special it is and you start to appreciate the little things a little bit more.”

In a five-run 10th inning, Jose Iglesias doubled to give the Mets the lead, Nimmo also doubled and Pete Alonso crushed his 18th homer.

Lindor’s 14th home run in the sixth inning was the only blemish on Nationals rookie DJ Herz, who struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings of five-hit ball. Herz joined Stephen Strasburg as the only pitchers since 1901 to have two games with 10 strikeouts and no walks in his first six major league starts.

“I just go out there and pitch,” Herz said. “I just want to go out there and put these guys in the best situation to win. It’s cool to hear all that stuff, but I just try to go out there and do what’s best for my team.”

But Washington’s bullpen let Herz down, first when Hunter Harvey was bumped in the eighth and then when Garcia was lit for the loss.

The Mets became just the fourth team to score five or more runs in extra innings in consecutive games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

After Sean Manaea allowed one earned run and struck out five in seven innings, Jose Butto gave the Mets exactly what they wanted by calling him up from the bullpen. Butto (2-3) has allowed just one hit in his first two innings in relief this season.

“We got two huge innings from him when we needed it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said.

Mets: Mendoza said Bader was day to day with a neck and upper back injury. … Designated hitter J.D. Martinez was scratched with left ankle soreness. … Right-handed reliever Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) has not started pitching and is expected to be out at least two more weeks, Mendoza said.

Nationals: Starting pitcher Josiah Gray is out until at least mid-July with elbow soreness. Gray said he felt fatigued in his last minor league rehab start Sunday before leaving the game. Manager Dave Martinez said Gray will have an MRI on his elbow, but not before the All-Star break, which begins July 15. The 26-year-old, who was Washington’s opening day starter, has been on the disabled list since early April. … Starting pitcher Cade Cavalli, who underwent Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2023, must step up his rehab process again after missing time with an illness, Martinez said.

Mets right-handed pitcher Christian Scott (0-2, 3.90 ERA) makes his first start since May 30, pitching against Nationals left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker (5-4, 3.32 ERA).

AP Major League Baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb