Wood’s Defining Moment
James Wood delivered a decisive blow in the fifth inning, launching a four-run home run that shifted the momentum and helped the Washington Nationals secure a 12-11 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday. The blast, which traveled 446 feet to center field, scored Crews, Young, and Nuñez, turning a 6-8 deficit into a 6-12 lead.
Wood’s performance was the centerpiece of a high-scoring affair at Nationals Park, where 11,092 spectators witnessed a game defined by explosive offense rather than pitching dominance. The Nationals finished with 12 runs, while the Astros managed 11, despite a strong individual effort from Wood’s counterpart in the box.
Early Exchanges and Power Surges
The game began with back-and-forth action in the first inning. Walker doubled to center to score Paredes, giving Houston an early 1-0 lead. Washington responded immediately when Mead doubled to center to bring Wood home, tying the game at 1-1.
Houston regained control in the second inning when Altuve homered 372 feet to left, driving in Shewmake and Matthews to make it 4-1. Washington answered in the third with a pair of home runs. Diaz launched a 389-foot shot to left to score Smith, and later in the inning, Abrams homered 392 feet to right, scoring García Jr. and Mead to tie the game at 6-6.
The Astros took the lead again in the third when García Jr. doubled to left to score Nuñez, and Mead singled to left to score Wood, making it 6-3. However, the Nationals’ offense exploded in the fifth. After Mead homered 404 feet to left center to make it 6-7, Millas hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Abrams, putting Houston ahead 6-8. Wood’s four-run homer immediately followed, swinging the score to 6-12.
