Instant Analysis: Nats 10, Diamondbacks 7
Behind four combined homers from CJ Abrams and James Wood, the Nationals blasted Arizona to move to within one game of a wild-card berth
No more Curtis Mead? No problem for the most-productive lineup in baseball.
Hours after trading their popular third baseman to the Red Sox for left-hander Connelly Early, the Nationals still blasted the Diamondbacks pitching staff thanks to two more homers a piece from CJ Abrams and James Wood, plus a barrage of doubles led by the newly recalled Brady House. In the process, the Nats won both the weekend series and the season series from Arizona, moving to within one game of the NL’s final wild-card position.
With an aging veteran (Miles Mikolas) starting for one team and an unproven rookie (Kohl Drake) starting for the other, this had the feel of a slug-fest from the get-go. And sure enough, both teams came out swinging for the fences. Arizona got early homers from both Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte off Mikolas, who was pulled after four innings of three-run ball, manager Blake Butera not wanting to press his luck any more than that.
The Nationals got early doubles off Drake from Dylan Crews and House, plus an RBI single from Jacob Young. The two big boys then took over as only they can, with Abrams homering just over the wall in left-center (a call that required a replay review) in the third and Wood homering off the batter’s eye in center in the fifth.
That prompted Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo to pull his starter and insert right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga. Three batters later, Abrams whacked a two-run homer to right-center, his second of the day, seventh in seven games and 27th of the season. The Nats never let up, scoring three more runs in the seventh thanks in part to back-to-back doubles by House and Young, then Wood’s second homer of the afternoon (and 30th of the season) to open up a healthy lead and give their bullpen plenty of breathing room … which that group wound up needing after Matt Krook loaded the bases in the ninth on three straight walks before Clayton Beeter got out of the mess with two inherited runners crossing the plate.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: Abrams has received more than his fair share of attention in recent days, so let’s give some love to his partner in crime (not that he doesn’t get plenty of attention on him own). Wood had been stuck on 28 homers since the All-Star break, and over his previous eight games was just 6-for-36 with two walks and 16 strikeouts. There was some loud contact last week in Colorado, but he was still lacking the kind of results everyone expects from him. That made today’s two-homer barrage plenty significant. His fifth-inning blast reached the batter’s eye in center. Three innings later, he reached the picnic tables behind the red seats in left-center. If those were the swings that get Wood back on track, he and the Nats will be just fine.
NOTABLE: There have been only two 40-homer seasons in Nationals history: Alfonso Soriano (46 in 2006) and Bryce Harper (42 in 2015). With two months to go, both Wood (30) and Abrams (27) are now on pace to join them.
UP NEXT: The final home series before the trade deadline brings the Blue Jays to town for interleague play. Andrew Alvarez is scheduled to start for the Nats, and Toronto just announced Max Scherzer will return from the IL and take the mound in his old stomping grounds on Monday at 6:45 p.m.) TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM
Mad Max homecoming tomorrow! Hope he gets a huge ovation then gives up 6 runs in 3 innings 😝
I love how CJ and James were basically going homer for homer.
This game felt like it was over until Krook started Krooking.
I also like how Ford seems like a vet behind the plate. Stole strikes and called a good game. Marte getting caught looking for strike 3 was especially delicious.
Now don’t overlook the Blue Jays.