Alonso and Acuña power Mets past Nationals 10-1 to increase wild card lead

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso homered and drove in five runs, Luisangel Acuña added his first major league longball to cap a huge night at the plate, and the New York Mets routed the Washington Nationals 10-1 on Tuesday to boost their chances in a close National League playoff race.

Tylor Megill (4-5) provided another terrific outing in place of injured starter Paul Blackburn, and Francisco Alvarez also went deep as the Mets improved to 10-2 against Washington this year.

New York is tied with Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards, two games ahead of rival Atlanta for the league’s last postseason berth with 11 to play.

“I’m just really fired up because of the situation we’ve put ourselves in,” Alonso said, explaining his passionate address to teammates during a meeting Monday in the wake of Francisco Lindor’s injury last weekend. “We control our own destiny.”

A roar went up in the crowd of 24,932 at Citi Field when the out-of-town scoreboard showed Cincinnati had polished off a 6-5 comeback victory over the Braves.

“I didn’t know," Alonso said. "So someone told me that’s what they were cheering about, but I thought someone was just getting rowdy like, chugging beers or something like that. I mean, people do that.”

Jose Iglesias had three of New York's 14 hits and scored twice, batting leadoff with Lindor sidelined by a sore back. The 22-year-old Acuña, subbing for the MVP contender at shortstop, finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored three times from the No. 9 spot in his fourth big league game and second start.

“He's a true pro so far and that's awesome to see,” Alonso said.

Acuña, younger sibling of Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., knocked in New York's first run with a double for his first career extra-base hit. He connected for a solo homer in the eighth to finish with his first two RBIs.

“That confidence comes from my brother,” the younger Acuña said through a translator.

He received a congratulatory text message from his big brother, and plans to put the souvenir ball from his first home run in a trophy case in the new house he's building.

“Excited. Proud of myself,” Acuña said. “I think this is something that I earned.”

Alonso also was a triple short of the cycle. He blooped a two-run single off shaky starter Mitchell Parker (7-10) with the bases loaded in a four-run third inning, then launched a three-run homer in the sixth.

Iglesias is batting .425 during an 11-game hitting streak.

Acuña's first career error helped the Nationals score an unearned run in the third, but Megill recovered. He permitted just two hits in six innings and retired his final 10 batters — after striking out nine over six shutout innings of one-hit ball at Toronto last time out on Sept. 9.

“We just couldn’t catch up to a fastball,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “The guy was throwing fastballs, and we were late. Bad combination.”

Touted rookie Dylan Crews had three of Washington's four hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams (left shoulder) was back in the leadoff spot after missing four games. ... 2B Luis García Jr. exited in the fourth with a sore right wrist. ... RHP Trevor Williams (flexor muscle strain) threw a bullpen and could be reinstated from his minor league rehab assignment to start this weekend in Chicago against the Cubs. ... OF Alex Call (partial tear of plantar fascia) has been taking flyballs at Citi Field. “If everything goes well, we might possibly send him out on a quick rehab,” Martinez said. “I know we're running out of time here, but I would like to get him back and get him in some games.”

Mets: Lindor was feeling better, manager Carlos Mendoza said, and still hopes to return this week. ... RHP Kodai Senga (left calf strain) threw another bullpen and went through some fielding drills. The team will wait to see how he feels Wednesday before announcing whether Senga's next step will be live batting practice, a minor league rehab game or another bullpen session. Senga hopes to come off the 60-day injured list next week — he becomes eligible on Sept. 25 — to provide even a few innings before the regular season ends. ... OF Brandon Nimmo was rested against the left-hander.

UP NEXT

Mets LHP Jose Quintana (9-9, 3.91 ERA) makes his 30th start of the season when he faces left-hander DJ Herz (4-7, 3.70) in the series finale Wednesday night.

Quintana has allowed one earned run in 25 innings over his last four starts, winning the past three. He threw 14 shutout innings in back-to-back starts against Washington in early July.

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

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews runs to second base for a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews hits a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuña hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals' Mitchell Parker pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Tylor Megill pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker reacts as New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso runs to second base for a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez celebrates as he passes Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna tosses his bat as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Luisangel Acuna hits a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Pete Alonso hits a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SEATTLE (AP) — Anthony Rizzo hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning and drove in both runs for New York as the Yankees clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Rizzo lined the first pitch of the inning from reliever Collin Snider (3-4) down the right-field line to score automatic runner Jasson Domínguez from second. Ian Hamilton held on in the bottom half after a bizarre baserunning mistake by Julio Rodríguez.

The postseason berth is the 59th in franchise history for the Yankees, and their 25th playoff trip in 30 years. Assured at least an American League wild card, New York has made the playoffs six times in Aaron Boone’s seven seasons as manager.

“We’ve been through a lot already this year,” Boone said. “We understand it’s just a first step — but it’s an important one. We’re in the dance.”

The first AL team to wrap up a playoff spot, the Yankees moved five games ahead of second-place Baltimore in the AL East with 10 to play.

Seattle remained five games behind first-place Houston in the AL West and three back of Minnesota for the league's last wild card.

The Yankees managed only two hits against Seattle starter Bryce Miller, but Rizzo gave them an early lead with a single in the second for his first RBI since Sept. 2.

Miller struck out eight over six innings while issuing four walks (one intentional). After a bumpy first few innings, he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third and retired the final 10 hitters he faced.

But the Seattle offense failed to push across a run against former Mariners pitcher Nestor Cortes, who allowed four hits and struck out six in six shutout innings.

“Our goal is to win the division,” Cortes said. “I knew how important it was today for us to clinch. Last year we didn't clinch, so having this opportunity to pitch in this game and be able to help out the guys to go out there and throw up zeros and win, it was everything for us today.”

Justin Turner tied the game at 1 with a homer in the eighth that handed Clay Holmes his 13th blown save this season, most in the majors. That equaled the club record held by Dave Righetti (1987) and Hall of Famer Goose Gossage (1983).

Cal Raleigh singled leading off the bottom of the 10th to send Rodríguez, the automatic runner, from second to third. But the Mariners' star was picked off after scampering into foul territory to dodge a flying bat that slipped out of the hands of Randy Arozarena on a strikeout, completing a strange double play.

“Kind of a freak scenario there at the end with the bat coming down there and just kind of a reactionary thing," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. "It was a great ballgame on all fronts and a tough one to lose.”

Rodríguez explained that he assumed the play would be declared dead after the bat sailed out of Arozarena's hands, and he would be allowed to return to third base.

“I got away and turned my back to the field and I heard (third base coach) Manny (Acta) yelling, ‘Get back to third.’ That’s when I got back to third,'” Rodriguez said. “Honestly, at that moment I wasn’t really thinking about the game, just trying to get away from the bat coming at me.”

Turner then struck out to end it.

Hamilton earned his third career save and first this year. Luke Weaver (6-3) fanned four in 1 2/3 hitless innings for the win.

Mariners pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts, while Yankees pitchers struck out 14 batters.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners OF Victor Robles (hand) was out of the lineup after taking a pitch off the hand from New York starter Luis Gil in the first inning of Tuesday’s game. Robles exited after the inning, and his status is day-to-day.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt (5-3, 2.41 ERA) will start on Wednesday against Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (7-11, 3.24).

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

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, center, celebrates clinching a playoff spot with teammates, including catcher Austin Wells, right, after a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge celebrates clinching a playoff spot after a 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The New York Yankees celebrate clinching a playoff spot after a 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, left, poses for a photo with third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, as they celebrate clinching a playoff spot after a 2-1 win in 10 innings over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner reacts to hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes throws against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner reacts to hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees relief pitcher Ian Hamilton reacts to earning the save in a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo reacts after hitting an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo follows through on an RBI double against the Seattle Mariners during the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

New York Yankees' Anthony Rizzo, left, greets designated hitter Aaron Judge, right, as they celebrate clinching a playoff spot after a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)