The New York Mets struggled to score against the Washington Nationals, finally breaking through in the late innings. The game remained tied until extra innings when Starling Marte delivered a walk-off hit, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

These wins against the Nationals are crucial for the Mets as they fight to secure a Wild Card spot. Losing such games would be detrimental to their playoff hopes, akin to dropping a late-season game to the struggling Colorado Rockies.

Speaking of the Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are also in the Wild Card race, suffered a disappointing loss to Colorado. This comes after a thrilling extra-inning win for Arizona to avoid a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Mets now trail Arizona by just one game in the Wild Card standings. Adding a touch of irony to the situation, the Diamondbacks’ loss came courtesy of a throwing error by Geroldo Perdomo, the player who controversially earned an All-Star selection over Francisco Lindor last season.

Adding to the Mets’ good fortune, the Atlanta Braves, who share the third Wild Card spot, lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. This broke the tie between the two NL Wild Card teams who began the day sharing the third seed.

The Mets face a challenging final stretch and will need to be at their best to secure a playoff berth. They will also need some help from their rivals, with either the Braves or Diamondbacks needing to falter. Based on the remaining schedules, Arizona faces a tougher road ahead, giving Mets fans even more reason to celebrate the Diamondbacks’ recent stumble.