Wood and Abrams Go Yard Twice Each as Nationals Edge D-backs

Give credit to the Washington Nationals for refusing to get out-muscled on Sunday at Nationals Park. The Arizona Diamondbacks came swinging with authority, but the Nationals’ lineup ultimately proved too deep and too dangerous, sealing a 10-7 victory that had all the makings of a home run derby.

Let’s be honest: Jonathan Loáisiga lasted just one inning for Arizona, and that was the beginning of the end. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff couldn’t locate their fastballs consistently, and Washington’s hitters punished them relentlessly. This wasn’t some defensive struggle or pitching clinic. This was a straight-up slugfest, and the Nationals simply won the battle of the bats.

The star of the show? James Wood and CJ Abrams each went yard twice. Wood drove in three runs with his two-bomb performance, proving he’s becoming a legitimate power threat in this lineup. Abrams was even more impressive, launching his second homer off what should have been ball four before an ABS review overturned the call. That’s 27 homers for Abrams, who’s now surpassed Ian Desmond in the franchise record books. The kid is having himself a season.

Arizona Fought Back but Left Too Many Runners on Base

Don’t sleep on Arizona’s effort here. The Diamondbacks showed legitimate power themselves, with Geraldo Perdomo launching a solo shot and Ketel Marte going deep in the fourth inning. Gabriel Moreno was a spark plug all day, driving in runs and putting pressure on Washington’s pitching staff. But here’s the thing: the D-backs couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities when it mattered most.

Nolan Arenado grounded into an out in the ninth inning, and that’s exactly the moment you need your cleanup hitter to deliver a knockout blow. The Diamondbacks clawed back late, but by then it was too little, too late. They made it respectable with a pair of runs in the ninth, but the damage was done in the middle innings when Washington’s bats simply outpaced them.

Bullpen Battles and Late-Game Drama

Riley Cornelio earned the win despite a short two-inning stint, and Clayton Beeter picked up his tenth save with a clean ninth inning. These are the kinds of victories that build momentum, especially when your backup arms step up and shut the door. The Nationals’ bullpen could have imploded given how many runs were flying off bats, but they held firm when necessary.

Dylan Crews went 3-for-5 with some quality at-bats that set the table for the power hitters, while Brady House and Jacob Young contributed with doubles and clutch hits in the seventh and eighth innings. Washington showed the kind of lineup depth that wins championships, with contributions coming from the one through nine slots.

For Arizona’s Torey Lovullo, this loss stings because his team had every chance to win a game where they put up seven runs. That’s typically enough in most ballparks. But on this Sunday in Washington, it wasn’t nearly enough. The Diamondbacks will chalk this up as one that got away, while the Nationals keep rolling with a suddenly electric offense leading the way.