Instant Analysis: Nats 12, Astros 11

The Nationals made up an early five-run deficit, then nearly blew a six-run lead before hanging on to beat Houston

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

The 2026 Nationals have long since proven there’s no sense doubting their ability to score runs in bunches, even when faced with a sizable early deficit. They’ve also long since proven no amount of runs they score is enough for their bullpen to cruise to victory without at least making things interesting.

Despite falling into an early five-run deficit created by starter Miles Mikolas, the Nats stormed back with a five-run rally in the third and a six-run rally in the fifth to open up a six-run lead. But it still required a nail-biter performance from their bullpen to ultimately hang on and beat the Astros, 12-11 on a wild Monday night on South Capitol Street.

CJ Abrams, Curtis Mead and James Wood each homered, with Wood’s fifth-inning grand slam highlighting a huge night at the plate for the majors’ most-productive lineup. Abrams’ three-run blast in the third tied the game. Mead’s solo shot to lead off the fifth gave the Nationals the lead. But Wood’s 446-foot moonshot to center (moments after Nasim Nuñez hustled down the line to beat out a grounder to second that kept the inning alive) sealed the deal and made it 11 unanswered runs over a three-inning stretch.

Thus did Mikolas find himself in a most unlikely position: In line to earn the win despite giving up six early runs. The veteran right-hander dug his team in a hole when he surrendered home runs to Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz, but he stuck it out and made it through the sixth with seven total runs charged to his name.

Cole Henry, just recalled from Triple-A Rochester, was handed a five-run lead in the seventh and proceeded to retire the side with two strikeouts. But sent back to the mound for the eighth, the right-hander could not record the final out he needed to escape that inning and wound up allowing four runs, headlined by Brice Matthews’ three-run homer off his 44th pitch in relief.

Clayton Beeter had to come in and get the final out of the eighth, then return for the ninth before this wild win was secured.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: Sure, Mead was a triple shy of the cycle through five innings and drove in a run in each of his first three at-bats. But who are we kidding, it was Wood’s grand slam that stole the show tonight. Having shown the patience to draw a couple of walks in his first two plate appearances, the big guy then turned aggressive when he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the fifth. The ball traveled 446 feet to left-center field, reaching the picnic tables beyond the red seats. It was Wood’s second career grand slam. And unlike the first one earlier this year, it actually cleared the fence.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: There wasn’t much to like about Mikolas’ start tonight, except for one thing: He found a way to complete six innings and depart with a lead. The Astros were all over the right-hander early on, with Altuve ambushing a first-pitch slider for a three-run homer in the second and Diaz connecting on an 0-1 fastball for a two-run homer in the third. With six runs across the plate already, that easily could’ve spelled the end of the night for Mikolas. But needing more length after Cade Cavalli couldn’t complete three innings Sunday, Blake Butera left his starter in. And after his teammates stormed back to take the lead, Mikolas managed to settle in and get through the sixth on 99 pitches. He departed having been charged with seven runs … but found himself in line for the win. That’s something that’s never happened to a pitcher in Nationals history.

NOTABLE: Shortly before first pitch tonight, MLB announced Cavalli’s suspension has been reduced from seven to five games after hearing his appeal. The right-hander began serving it immediately and will be eligible to return to start Sunday’s first-half finale against the Yankees if the team so chooses.

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the series (Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.) will have Andrew Alvarez taking the mound for the Nats against right-hander Tatsuya Imai. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM