NEW YORK (Interstat) — Juan Soto launched a three-run homer during a decisive six-run fourth inning, powering the New York Mets to a 12-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Citi Field.

The win was crucial for the Mets, who entered the night holding a two-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third National League wild-card spot. They improved to 80-74, while the Nationals fell to 62-92.

Washington built an early 4-1 lead with a four-run third inning, capitalizing on a costly error by Mets starter Brandon Sproat. Jorge Alfaro scored on Sproat’s throwing error before CJ Abrams and Josh Bell hit back-to-back RBI doubles. Daylen Lile drove in another run with a triple.

The Mets responded immediately in the bottom of the third, with Pete Alonso driving in Francisco Lindor to cut the deficit to 4-2. The game then turned completely in the fourth.

Facing Nationals reliever Andrew Alvarez, the Mets sent 10 men to the plate. Brandon Nimmo and Starling Marte led off with singles before Francisco Alvarez tied the game with a two-run double. After a hit-by-pitch and a strikeout, Lindor hit a go-ahead RBI single that was compounded by a fielding error from Nationals left fielder James Wood, allowing a run to score.

Soto then stepped up and blasted his career-best 42nd home of the season—a three-run shot to center field—to cap the inning and give the Mets an 8-4 lead. Soto, who hit 41 homers for the Yankees last season before signing a record $765 million contract with the Mets, finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs.

Abrams tried to keep Washington in it, hitting a two-run homer in the fifth to pull the Nationals within two runs. But the Mets’ bullpen shut the door from there, and New York added insurance runs late. A bases-loaded walk to Luisangel Acuña in the eighth scored a run, and Brandon Nimmo followed with a two-run single to put the game out of reach.

Brooks Raley earned the win for New York, improving to 2-0. Andrew Alvarez took the loss for Washington, falling to 1-1.

Lindor had a strong night for the Mets, going 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Abrams led the Nationals, going 2 for 4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs.

The game, played in front of a crowd of 39,484, lasted 2 hours and 51 minutes. The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Saturday.