Starling Marte lined a game-ending single in the 10th inning that lifted the New York Mets to a critical 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

New York roughs up rookie lefty DJ Herz, knocking him out during a nine-run fourth inning as the Mets complete a three-game sweep to buoy their playoff hopes.

Carlos Mendoza made the point multiple times on Wednesday. “We haven’t done anything,” the manager said. No, the Mets haven’t clinched a playoff berth or won a division. But they’re starting to see the light at the end of their long climb out of competitive purgatory from earlier in the season.