WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 8–4 at Nationals Park on May 21, 2026, in a National League East matchup. C.J. Abrams and Jacob Young each hit home runs for Washington, while Juan Soto hit two home runs for New York.

Zach Thornton, called up from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Clay Holmes, who had a fractured right fibula, made his major league debut on the mound for the Mets. The Nationals' starting pitcher was Cade Cavalli. In the first inning, after Curtis Mead singled and Andrés Chaparro walked, Abrams hit a three-run home run off Thornton.

The Mets answered in the second inning when Mark Vientos doubled and Brett Baty drove him in with an RBI single. A.J. Ewing added a single later in the frame before Zach Littell struck out Hayden Senger.

Washington extended its lead in the bottom of the second. Nasim Nuñez walked, stole second base and reached third on an errant throw, then scored on an RBI single by Keibert Ruiz to make it 4–1.

Soto cut into the deficit with a home run in the third inning. In the fifth, Carson Benge threw out Luis Garcia Jr. at home plate, with Senger applying the tag on Ruiz. Ruiz later doubled for the Nationals' final baserunner against Thornton, who retired nine of the final ten batters he faced after allowing a run in the second. Thornton was removed after throwing 80 pitches, finishing with 4⅓ innings pitched, four earned runs on four hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Austin Warren allowed a run in the sixth inning after Abrams and Dylan Crews singled and Daylen Lile hit a sacrifice fly. Following a double by Jacob Young, Nuñez executed a sacrifice bunt that brought in Washington's sixth run. Kimbrel recorded the final two outs of the inning. Young then hit a two-run home run off Kimbrel in the eighth inning, and Soto answered with a two-run shot in the top of the frame.

The Mets entered the game with a 21–28 record, a .232 team batting average and 202 runs scored on the season. Washington entered at 25–25. The Nationals had called up Crews to their lineup. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza started MJ Melendez at designated hitter, with rookie Nick Morabito on the bench. The Mets considered promoting Jonah Tong to start their weekend series in Miami.