NEW YORK (AP) – Chris Woodward’s pinch-hit single in the 10th inning drove in the winning run, and the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 9-8 Saturday night despite blowing an eight-run lead after Pedro Martinez left.

Gerald Williams walked with one out in the 10th against reliever Gary Majewski (2-3). After Kaz Matsui flied out, Jose Reyes walked. Woodward hit for winning pitcher Roberto Hernandez (6-5) and singled up the middle, scoring Williams from second.

Brian Schneider drove in four runs as the Nationals rallied against the New York bullpen. His two-run, two-out double in the ninth against Mets closer Braden Looper capped Washington’s comeback and cost Martinez his first win in almost a month.

Home runs by Ramon Castro, Reyes and David Wright built the big early lead for Martinez, who left the game after six innings of shutout ball.

But the Mets bullpen gave it all back.

Danny Graves started the seventh with a walk to Schneider. After an infield out, Reyes threw low on Cristian Guzman’s grounder for an error, giving Washington runners at first and third. Pinch-hitter Carlos Baerga doubled for one run and Graves walked Brad Wilkerson. Jamey Carroll’s single made it 8-2 and finished Graves.

Dae-Sung Koo relieved and struck out Nick Johnson, but Ryan Church followed with a two-run single, making it 8-4. Aaron Heilman relieved and his first pitch hit Preston Wilson, loading the bases. Schneider followed with a two-run single, making it 8-6.

Heilman finally got the third out and sailed through a 1-2-3 eighth. Looper came on in the ninth, looking for his 25th save. He retired the first two batters but gave up singles to Church and Wilson before Schneider’s double tied it at 8.

Martinez took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of his last start at Los Angeles but wound up losing 2-1. He has not won since July 23, but this one seemed a cinch.

Wright singled with one out in the second and Marlon Anderson walked. Castro, filling in for injured Mike Piazza, followed with his fifth home run of the season, connecting on an 0-2 pitch from Livan Hernandez.

Victor Diaz singled, Martinez sacrificed and Reyes hit the next pitch into the Mets bullpen for his fourth homer of the season and first since April 19.

The five-run inning was a dramatic reversal for the Mets, who had scored just one run in the previous two games.

New York padded its lead in the third, finishing Hernandez.

Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd opened with singles and Wright followed with his 18th homer on a 2-0 pitch. The three RBIs gave Wright the team lead with 78.

Notes: The Mets broadcast a DiamondVision message from injured RF Mike Cameron, thanking fans for their get-well wishes. Cameron broke both cheekbones and his nose in an Aug. 11 collision with Beltran. … Castro’s home run traveled an estimated 410 feet and Reyes’ homer, his fifth hit in his last six at-bats, was estimated at 420 feet. … Martinez threw just 78 pitches, 57 for strikes. … The Mets drew a crowd of 51,785 for Hispanic Night, their eighth sellout of the season.

AP-ES-08-20-05 2255EDT

Copy the Story Link