Wood Powers Late Surge
James Wood delivered the decisive blow in a high-scoring affair, hitting a four-run home run that shifted the momentum and propelled the Washington Nationals to a 12-11 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday at Nationals Park. The win improves Washington’s record to 47-45, while Houston falls to 45-48.
Early Inning Action
The game featured immediate offense from both sides. In the first inning, the Astros struck first when Walker doubled to center, driving in Paredes for a 1-0 lead. Washington responded in the same frame as Mead doubled to center, allowing Wood to score and tie the game at 1-1.
The Astros regained the lead in the second inning when Altuve launched a 372-foot home run to left field, scoring Shewmake and Matthews to make it 4-1. Washington answered in the third inning with a pair of solo and two-run homers. Diaz hit a 389-foot shot to left, bringing Smith home to make it 6-1. After García Jr. and Mead added single runs, Abrams homered to right (392 feet), scoring García Jr. and Mead to tie the game at 6-6.
Deciding Frames
Houston took a 7-6 lead in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Millas that scored Abrams, followed immediately by Mead’s 404-foot home run to left-center. However, the Nationals’ offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth. Wood connected on a 446-foot home run to center, driving in Crews, Young, and Nuñez to extend Washington’s lead to 12-6.
