James Wood dazzled for the Washington Nationals as they closed out the three game series against the New York Mets with a win
The bats did enough for Washington Nationals late on Thursday afternoon, closing out the series with a 5-4 win over the New York Mets.
With the win, the Nationals secured consecutive series wins against the Mets at Citi Field for the first time since Sept. 22-24, 2017 and April 16-18, 2018.
It started with another defensive highlight from James Wood in the bottom of the first inning after robbing fellow former National Juan Soto of a home run, helping Miles Mikolas put together a clean opening frame.
Mikolas went on to post three strikeouts while allowing one walk, three hits and three earned runs across four innings before picking up the win, moving to 1-3 as a National.
That also helped the Nationals take the lead in the second inning after Jorbit Vivas notched the team's first hit of the afternoon. He would then cross plate from first base during the next at bat thanks to an error by Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta, enough to get Nasim Nunez to second base. Jacob Young then drove Nunez home after his RBI single into right field pushed Washington ahead, 2-0.
The Nationals would extend its early lead to 3-0 after CJ Abrams singled into left field to bring Luis Garcia Jr home, yet the Mets would get it all back in the bottom of the third inning after Miles Mikolas gave up a 359 foot home run to right field, tying the game at three.
The Mets would then grab the lead for the first time in the sixth inning after Mitchell Parker replaced Mikolas only to allow his first two batters to reach base, setting up an RBI double that drove Juan Soto home for the game clinching run.
Yet it would be CJ Abrams who lived up to be the hero after belting a 403 foot home run in the eighth inning, driving Daylen Lile home for a two run shot that put the Nationals ahead, 5-4.
Gus Varland then got out of a jam started by Richard Lovelady in the bottom of the inning to preserve the late inning win.
After moving to 15-17 overall and 12-7 on the road, the Nationals will now return home to take on the Milwaukee Brewers for a three game series beginning Friday. Jake Irvin is set to take the mound in game one as the Nationals look for the fourth consecutive win against the Brewers this season after sweeping them in Milwaukee earlier this month.