Rookie James Wood’s three-run homer in the eighth inning broke a tie and lifted the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 win and a sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Keibert Ruiz grounded a single to right field with two outs in the eighth of right-hander Lucas Sims (1-4), and Ildemaro Vargas followed with a bunt single. The Reds brought in left-hander Justin Wilson to face the lefty-swinging Wood, who hammered Wilson’s first pitch, a 94 mph fastball up in the zone, 404 feet to left field.
Nationals reliever Robert Garcia (2-3) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn the win, while Kyle Finnegan retired the Reds in order on five pitches in the ninth for his 28th save.
The Reds have lost four in a row for the first time since an eight-game skid ended on May 9.
Cincinnati’s Stuart Fairchild opened the fifth inning by connecting on a fastball and sending it into the left field seats to tie the game at 2-2.
In the fourth, the Nationals looked poised to extend their 2-1 lead, but Cincinnati left fielder Will Benson made two stellar plays. He ran a long way and dove to snare a line drive from Wood. Trey Lipscomb singled, but he was left stranded by another great effort from Benson, who reached out to get a line drive from Jacob Young to end the inning.
The Nationals took the lead in the third inning. Young drew a lead-off walk and Juan Yepez extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a two-out double, moving Young to third. With Harold Ramirez at the plate, catcher Austin Wynns tried to pick off Young, but third baseman Noelvi Marte missed the catch for an error, allowing Young to come in to tie the game.
Ramirez then singled to left field, driving in Yepez to put Washington in front.
Marte had given Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the second inning, rapping a two-out solo shot to left-center field.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin gave up two runs on five hits and struck out seven in seven innings for Washington. Reds starter Andrew Abbott allowed two runs, none earned, on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.