After a long weekend, the Nationals series with the New York Mets has come to an end. Thankfully, the Nats were able to head to Atlanta on a high note, defeating the Mets 4-2 in the series finale.

Washington got on the board early in the bottom of the first when Nelson Cruz launched his first home run as a Nat. If the Nationals want to be competitive this season, they’ll need Cruz to produce big-time out of the cleanup spot. On Sunday, he was able to do so. More on that later.

No. 450 for @ncboomstick23 💪 pic.twitter.com/GCZbGbxQhu

— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2022

The 1-0 score stuck until the top of the fourth when Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot, tying the score at 1-1.

Francisco Lindor with a game-tying homer off Erick Fedde. That's Lindor's first of the season.

Mets 1, Nationals 1, top four. pic.twitter.com/dgfz2Ik9e7

— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 10, 2022

The Mets weren’t done there, as later in the inning the new “Nat-Killer” Mark Canha continued his red-hot start, lacing an RBI single into center and giving the Mets a 2-1 lead.

Erick Fedde and the Washington bullpen were able to settle down after the fourth, keeping the score at 2-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Fedde, the first Nationals starter to go five innings this season did a nice job, as did Steve Cishek, Sean Doolittle, and Kyle Finnegan out of the bullpen. The three relievers combined to go three innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four.

Sean Doolittle is back folks pic.twitter.com/0KAC0TOfsr

— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) April 10, 2022

The Nationals finally got their offense going in the top of the eighth, posting their best offensive inning of the season. Lucius Fox had a great at-bat, tying the game 2-2 with an RBI squeeze bunt.

Lucius Fox owns your franchise pic.twitter.com/slwHRKR9K6

— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) April 10, 2022

Later in the inning Nelson Cruz delivered the big blow, smoking a two-run single into center, giving Washington a 4-2 lead.

NELSON CRUZ IN THE CLUTCHpic.twitter.com/GVz6LQpdXV

— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) April 10, 2022

With a two-run lead, right-hander Tanner Rainey came in for the ninth. The righty looked great, working a scoreless inning and giving Washington their first win of the season.

The Nationals (1-3) head to Atlanta (2-2) tomorrow to take on the Braves. Atlanta will send right-hander Huascar Ynoa to the mound, making his first start of the season. Washington will likely counter with left-hander Josh Rogers, who seems on pace to fill in for the injured Anibal Sánchez.