Robinson Cano returned to the lineup with three hits, including a home run, and the visiting New York Mets rebounded from their epic loss on Tuesday night to defeat the Washington Nationals 8-4 on Wednesday.

After suffering the first loss in franchise history in a game they led by six runs in the ninth inning or later, the Mets took a 7-1 sixth-inning lead Wednesday and held on.

Reinstated Thursday after missing a month with a torn left hamstring that could have ended his season, Cano reached base four times and scored twice in his first action since Aug. 4.

Juan Lagares and Pete Alonso also homered for New York, which has won 12 of 16 series since the All-Star break.

New York's Wilson Ramos went 0-for-4, ending his 26-game hitting streak, the longest in the majors this season.

Washington rallied for three runs against Jeurys Familia in the sixth, as Asdrubal Cabrera singled home a run and Anthony Rendon doubled home two more to pull Washington within 7-4.

Jeff McNeil's RBI single made it 8-4 in the eighth.

Seth Lugo worked two scoreless innings, and Justin Wilson pitched the ninth.

Zack Wheeler (10-7) navigated through five innings for the win. He allowed baserunners in four innings, but gave up only one run on seven hits and retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced.

Washington's Anibal Sanchez (8-7) went five-plus innings and was charged with seven runs on eight hits while losing for the first time since May 10.

The Nationals took a 1-0 lead on Trea Turner's RBI single in the second.

Lagares tied it with a homer leading off the third. It was his third of the season and first since May 5.

Michael Conforto doubled leading off the fourth, and one out later, Cano lined a first-pitch change-up into the Mets' bullpen to give New York a 3-1 lead.

Alonso made it 4-1 in the fifth with a solo shot down the left field line. It was his 45th of the season, leaving him seven from Aaron Judge's rookie record of 52.

The Mets added three runs in the sixth, with Amed Rosario driving in two and McNeil another on a pair of singles.

--Field Level Media