WASHINGTON (Interstat) — The New York Mets erupted for 10 runs in the top of the 12th inning Monday night, turning a tense extra-inning affair into a 16-7 victory over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

The game, completed in 12 innings, was a back-and-forth contest that saw the Mets take an early lead, the Nationals claw back repeatedly and both teams trade runs in the 11th before New York’s historic 12th-inning outburst settled matters. The Mets improved to 21-26, while the Nationals dropped to 23-25.

Bo Bichette, the shortstop who had been mired in a 1-for-16 slump over his previous four games, broke out with a 3-for-6 performance that included a home run and three runs batted in. He keyed the decisive rally with a two-run double in the 12th.

Carson Benge also had three hits and three RBIs for New York, and Brett Baty added two hits, including a solo home run, and three RBIs.

Huascar Brazobán earned the victory, improving to 3-1, with two innings of two-hit, shutout relief. Paxton Schultz took the loss, falling to 0-1, after being charged with five runs in the 12th inning.

The game did not follow the projections of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-5 Nationals victory. Interstat’s ELO system had given the Mets a 53.90 percent probability to win, and New York was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined total of 23 runs went under the over/under line of 9.5.

The Mets scored first, plating a run in the second inning on a run-scoring double by Luis Torrens after a two-base error by Nationals right fielder James Wood. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the frame, scoring two runs on a double by Jose Tena and a single by Drew Millas.

New York tied the game in the fourth on Baty’s solo home run to center field, his third of the season. The Mets took the lead in the fifth on a two-run single by Juan Soto, and Bichette extended the lead to 5-3 with a solo homer in the seventh.

The Nationals again responded in the bottom of the seventh, pulling within 5-4 on a sacrifice fly by CJ Abrams. Washington tied the game in the eighth when Curtis Mead doubled home James Wood, making it 5-5.

Both teams missed opportunities in the ninth and 10th innings. In the top of the 10th, the Mets put a runner on third with one out, but Soto was intentionally walked and Mark Vientos grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the 10th, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out, but Abrams struck out swinging to end the threat.

The game tilted in the 11th. The Mets took a 6-5 lead on a sacrifice fly by Marcus Semien, scoring Vidal Brujan. The Nationals answered in the bottom of the inning when Joey Wiemer singled home Abrams, tying the game at 6-6.

Then came the 12th. The Mets sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs on seven hits. The rally began with a sacrifice bunt by Hayden Senger moving Tyrone Taylor to third. Benge then singled to right field, scoring Taylor for a 7-6 lead. Bichette singled, and after an intentional walk to Soto loaded the bases, Brujan bunted for a single, scoring Benge.

Baty then singled to center, driving in Bichette and Soto for a 10-6 lead. Semien followed with an RBI single, scoring Brujan. A.J. Ewing singled to left, scoring Baty. After a flyout, Senger singled to reload the bases. Benge then delivered a two-run double, scoring Semien and Ewing, and Bichette capped the scoring with a two-run double, making it 16-6.

The Nationals scored a run in the bottom of the 12th on a single by James Wood, but it was not enough.

For the Mets, starting pitcher Christian Scott allowed four hits and three runs over four innings, striking out five. Austin Warren tossed two scoreless innings of relief, striking out one.

For the Nationals, starting pitcher Jake Irvin allowed five hits and one earned run over four innings, striking out six. Mitchell Parker allowed two hits and one earned run over three innings in relief, striking out two.

Wiemer, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the third inning, went 2-for-2 with two RBIs for Washington.