Trailing by five runs in the second inning with two outs, the Nationals needed to make some headway if they had any hope of clawing back into Tuesday’s game.
A double from Jorbit Vivas and a hit by pitch for Drew Millas gave the Nationals some hope. Nasim Nuñez singled to load the bases, forcing a mound visit for Mets starter Nolan McLean with star slugger James Wood at the plate.
Wood jumped on a first-pitch sweeper that traveled to left-center field. The ball deflected off the glove of leaping left fielder Nick Morabito, and center fielder Tyrone Taylor initially did not see where it bounced as Wood’s eyes got large and he raced around the bases. Wood dove head-first with his arms extended to touch home plate and became the second National to record an inside-the-park grand slam, joining Michael A. Taylor who did it in 2017 against the Phillies. He needed just 15.15 seconds to race around the bases.
His game-changing grand slam powered the Nationals’ 9-6 win over the Mets.
“It changes the entire momentum, the entire just feeling in the dugout,” manager Blake Butera said. “It’s probably the biggest smile I’ve seen on his face since I’ve gotten to know him.”
But Wood, who finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs, did receive some chirping from his teammates in the dugout about not clearing the fences, especially from José Tena who slugged his third homer of the season.
Things seemed bleak for the Nationals after starter Foster Griffin surrendered five runs over the first two innings. After allowing eight runs over 28 2/3 innings in April, he’s given up 14 over his last two starts.
Griffin said that all credit for the win should go to the offense.
“Once we scored the James Wood inside-the-park grand slam, the game got closer, I was like, ‘I don’t want to create any more big innings,’” he said.
To his credit, Griffin rebounded and threw three scoreless innings after the second, which is significant given that the Nationals used six pitchers in Monday’s loss.
But time and again the Nationals’ hitters are proving the team can’t be counted out no matter how large the deficit might seem.
“It’s been fun to watch,” Wood said of the offense. “It feels like any given day, anyone can be the hero.”
Wood’s grand slam imbued the Nationals with a sense of confidence and swagger. Suddenly, they saw a chink in McLean’s armor. In the third inning, Tena connected on a first-pitch sinker for a leadoff homer that tied the game 5-5.
CJ Abrams drew a walk and Daylen Lile’s single gave the Nationals runners on first and third with no outs. Good fortune came their way after a passed ball allowed Abrams to score from third to take a 6-5 lead and Lile to move to second.
Dylan Crews grounded out, which allowed Lile to advance to third. Vivas connected on a softly hit fly ball to left field that Morabito tracked into foul territory to record an impressive grab. But it was hit deep enough for Lile to tag up and run home to make it 7-5.
In the fourth, Wood hit a leadoff single. Tena reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by Marcus Semien. With runners on second and third and one out, Abrams reached on a fielder’s choice, and two runs scored on a missed catch error by catcher Luis Torrens to extend the Nationals’ lead to 9-5.
Brad Lord replaced Griffin and threw three innings, allowing one run in the seventh off Juan Soto’s solo homer.
Left-hander Richard Lovelady entered in the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning for his third save of the season.
The Nationals’ ability to score in bunches is impressive. They’re a dynamic, athletic team that thrives when the ball is put in play. That Woods’ grand slam didn’t come from him lofting a ball over the fence but instead through hustle was key for Butera.
“It just sends a message and a tone throughout the rest of the group of like, ‘Hey, keep going, take the extra base, run hard, you never know what’s gonna happen,’” Butera said.
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