The Mets had done everything they could to come back and force extra innings against the Nationals on Saturday, but it wasn't enough after an unbelievable inside-the-park home run decided the game.
With one out in the 11th inning and a runner on first, Tyler Rogers threw a 2-2 sinker to Lile, who launched it deep to center field. Cedric Mullins raced back, but it went over his head and off the wall, allowing the speedy Lile to scamper all the way home and give the Nationals a two-run lead. The home run was enough for Washington to hold on for the win and even the series.
"It’s a tough one there, but once you realize that you have no chance on that play, maybe you give yourself a better chance to play it off the wall," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of the play after the game. "But if [Mullins] stops, once it hits that part of the wall with the angle like that and bounces toward right field, there’s not much he could do there. Maybe he stops earlier, plays it off the way, but still, he’s not going to have a chance there."
"First thought was make a play on the ball," Mullins said. "Little shifted over because Rogers is a unique pitcher, defensive alignment is a little different, [Lile] got a good swing on it, thought I got a decent jump. Once I realized I wasn’t going to have a play, tried to stop myself to read it off the wall, but just got on me pretty quick."
Mullins added, "More or less an instinctive type play. Just do what you can. I knew what I was trying to do there, just didn’t execute."
The Mets still had a chance to extend or win the game in the bottom half of the inning, but Mullins popped up to lead off before Francisco Lindor lined out and Juan Soto struck out looking to end the contest.
Lile's inside-the-park homer was the first at Citi Field in eight years and snapped Washington's 11-game losing streak in Flushing. But more importantly, it stopped the Mets' momentum. They entered Saturday winners of four of five games and two games up on the Reds for the final wild card spot.
However the standings bear out when play starts Sunday, the Mets continue to control their own destiny. With seven games remaining, they'll look to take the rubber game of their series with the Nationals before hitting the road to end the season.
DAYLEN LILE, INSIDE-THE-PARK HOMER IN EXTRAS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QUmqYNemFQ
— MLB (@MLB) September 20, 2025
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