Mets rally for 9 runs in 8th to stun Nationals

Yoenis Cespedes launched a grand slam during a nine-run outburst in the eighth inning that rallied the New York Mets past the Washington Nationals 11-5 on Wednesday night, preventing a three-game sweep.

Todd Frazier tied it at 4 with a two-run single and pinch-hitter Juan Lagares put New York ahead for the first time with a two-run double off ineffective setup man Ryan Madson (0-2).

Shut down by Tanner Roark for seven innings, the firstplace Mets broke loose in the eighth and improved to 13-4 with a stirring victory against their NL East rivals.

Ryan Zimmerman homered twice, tripled and drove in four runs for the Nationals, who pulled off their own big comeback in the eighth inning of the series opener.

Two nights later, New York returned the favor.

TWINS 2, INDIANS 1 >> Eddie Rosario scored the winning run in his homeland in the bottom of the 16th inning, coming around on Ryan LaMarre’s single to lift the Twins over the Indians to split their two-game series in Puerto Rico. Rosario led off the 16th with a single and went to third when Logan Morrison’s grounder, which could have been a double-play ball, got past second baseman Jason Kipnis. BREWERS 2, REDS 0 >> Milwaukee center fielder Christian Yelich returned from the disabled list and made a snazzy sliding catch on a fly ball that deflected off the glove of left fielder Hernan Perez in the the Brewers’ victory over the Reds. Zach Davies allowed three hits over 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time in four starts this season, and Eric Thames hit a two-run homer. BLUE JAYS 15, ROYALS 5 >> Teoscar Hernandez had four hits, including a two-run home run, Curtis Granderson hit his ninth career grand slam and Toronto routed Kansas City to complete a three-game sweep of the Royals, losers of eight straight.