Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets sent David Peterson to the mound Monday night as they opened up three-game series against the Washington Nationals. While Peterson wasn’t at his best, the Mets’ offense unloaded, cruising the team to a 13-5 victory over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.

Things got a little out of hand for Peterson to begin the first inning as he gave up five baserunners to go along with three runs, thanks to a two-run single by Josh Bell and a sacrifice fly from Lane Thomas. The Mets quickly responded with two runs in the bottom half of the first thanks to an RBI single from Francisco Lindor, who now has at least one RBI in nine straight games, and an RBI groundout by Jeff McNeil to make it a 3-2 ballgame.

Following a one-out infield single by César Hernández, Peterson was able to get Keibert Ruiz to groundout into a fielder’s choice and Juan Soto ended the inning by grounding out as well.

The Mets scored four runs in the second inning thanks to Nick Plummer‘s game-tying RBI single, which was soon followed up by an RBI single from Luis Guillorme and a two-run home run from Starling Marte to make it a 6-3 Mets lead in the second. Lindor followed with the team’s third straight hit, but Pete Alonso and McNeil weren’t able to drive him in.

Peterson had a one-two-three inning in the third thanks to a groundout by Nelson Cruz and a single by Bell which was soon put to rest thanks to a double play off of the bat of Thomas. The Mets had five base runners again in the third, and tacked on three more runs to give them a 9-3 lead after three innings. Marte had a two-run single, and Lindor followed with an RBI single, capping off yet another stellar inning by the offense.

Peterson continued to dominate in the fourth inning, getting three straight outs by Maikel Franco, the struggling Victor Robles and Alcides Escobar. The offense was at it again in the bottom of the fourth, as Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha went back-to-back with singles and the rookie Plummer hit a deep three-run home run to give the Mets a 12-3 lead after four innings.

The Nationals were able to tack on a run in the top of the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by Bell after Peterson registered his first strikeout of the night, getting Yadiel Hernández looking after he pinch-hit for Nelson Cruz. Cruz was hit in the ankle by Peterson, and looked pretty out of his after that. After Peterson walked Thomas to load the bases, the Mets brought in Colin Holderman to face Franco, and got him to pop out to second to end the top of the fifth. Peterson finished the night going 4 2/3 innings while allowing four earned runs and four walks off of six hits, with just one strikeout.

The Nationals managed to get a one-two-three inning after a leadoff walk from Marte, his fourth time reaching base. After the fourth pitching change for Washington in five innings, they managed to contain the Mets’ hot bats.

Holderman caught Robles swinging for the first out of the sixth inning, and Escobar answered with a triple. Hernandez followed by singling in Escobar, for the first run allowed by Holderman in his young career. Ruiz grounded into a double play thanks to a stellar play by Guillorme.

Plummer was the lone baserunner in the sixth for the Mets, but the team wasn’t able to bring him in. Chasen Shreve was brought in to face to Soto in the seventh inning, following a strong inning and a third from Holderman. Shreve managed to get three outs to close out Washington for the second one-two-three inning of the night for Mets pitching.

Washington was able to hold the Mets’ offense yet again, throwing a perfect inning the close out the seventh. Stephen Nogosek was brought in following two baserunners aboard off of Shreve. Nogosek managed to get Robles to ground into a double play, and Escobar grounded out to end the inning.

Alonso began the eighth inning by hitting a towering home run to give the Mets a 13-5 lead, marking his 13th home run of the year, and his league high 47th RBI of the year.

Following a two-out double by Soto, Nogosek was able to get Hernandez to fly out to end the ballgame.

With the win Monday night, the Mets are on pace for 107 wins and have a commanding nine-game lead in the NL East.