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The New York Mets took advantage of their opportunities Tuesday night in an 8-0 win over the visiting Washington Nationals. The Mets turned six hits, five walks and two home runs into eight runs en route to only their third victory in the past 18 games. The Mets left just four runners on base Tuesday. Juan Soto hit a two-run homer to cap a seven-run fourth inning that sealed the win for New York, which has gone 3-15 in its past 18 games heading into a rematch with the Nationals on Wednesday night. “A lot of confidence in those guys,” said Mets starter Clay Holmes, who earned the win by tossing six innings of three-hit ball on Tuesday. “To see

After beginning the Don Mattingly era with a much-needed victory, the Philadelphia Phillies hope to ride the momentum into Wednesday night’s matchup with the visiting San Francisco Giants. Philadelphia entered Tuesday with a league-worst-tying 9-19 record, prompting the team to part ways with manager Rob Thomson. Mattingly was promoted from bench coach to replace Thomson on an interim basis — and the early results overwhelmingly were positive. Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings, while Trea Turner spurred the offense with four hits in the Phillies’ 7-0 victory over the Giants on Tuesday. Adolis Garcia drove in two runs, while Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm each added two hits and an RBI in the lopsided triumph. “It

James Harden’s playoff history has a common theme throughout his 17-year career. Only Utah Jazz legends Karl Malone and John Stockton have appeared in more postseason games without winning an NBA championship. Harden’s shortcomings in the postseason are front and center as his Cleveland Cavaliers return home for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Fifth-seeded Toronto tied the series at 2-2 with back-to-back victories in Canada, taking full advantage of Harden’s sloppy ballhandling and bad decision-making. Fourth seed Cleveland had won the first two contests rather decisively in its arena. “Games change fast and things happen in the playoffs,” Harden said Tuesday following practice at the team’s suburban training facility. “We

The Baltimore Orioles would like for first baseman Pete Alonso to get untracked. They hope to see more signs of that Wednesday night against the visiting Houston Astros after the slugger unleashed an opposite-field home run in a 5-3 Baltimore victory Tuesday in the series opener. Alonso, a big free-agent prize for the Orioles in the offseason, is batting only .198 with four homers and 12 RBIs this season. “I think my swing feels good,” he said. “Just need to get a ball or two to find some grass or maybe a seat.” Alonso put one in the seats over the right-field fence in the fifth inning Tuesday. Every time he homers, it’s a signal that he could be on