Mets destroy Nationals to maintain position in NL wild-card race

The Mets finished off a sweep of the Nationals on Wednesday on the strength of a nine-run fourth inning, fitting for a team that seems to have nine lives.Left for dead by most at various points throughout the season, the Mets won their third straight game at Citi Field, 10-0, to set up a critical four-game series in Queens beginning Thursday against the first-place Phillies.They enter the final 10 games of the season two games up on the Braves for the final NL wild card and tied for the second spot with Arizona (the Mets hold the tiebreaker), as well as a season-high 16 games over .500 (84-68).And they’ve won nine of their last 10 at home.This one wasn’t close, as the Mets erupted for a nine-spot in the fourth, keyed by a two-run single from Mark Vientos and a three-run blast by Brandon Nimmo.Seven shutout innings from Jose Quintana ensured the Nationals wouldn’t get back in the game.The lefty hasn’t given up a run in 22 ²/₃ consecutive innings and allowed just one earned run in his last five starts, covering 32 innings.And since Sept.1, the Mets rotation has a 1.77 ERA.Nimmo started the inning with a leadoff walk, followed by a single to left by Pete Alonso.Tyrone Taylor then crushed a double to right-center, his fourth in his last six games.Nimmo just beat the throw home to give the Mets the lead.With runners on second and third, the slumping Vientos — hitless in his previous 15 at-bats — came up with a two-run single to center to make it 3-0.Vientos scored on a base hit through the left side of the infield by rookie Luisangel Acuna.A flare single down the right-field line by Jose Iglesias loaded the bases and ended DJ Herz’s night.Starling Marte crushed a bullet to right to score two more and Nimmo then hit his 20th homer of the season to complete the onslaught.It made for easy work the rest of the way for Quintana, who allowed just two hits and a pair of walks.Acuna tacked on the final run for the Mets with a solo shot in the eighth, the shorts...