James Wood's bombs boost Nats to series salvaging win over Braves

Field Level Media|published: Wed 24th September, 15:12 2025

MLB: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves

Sep 23, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) watches after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

James Wood hit a pair of deep solo home runs and the visiting Washington Nationals beat Atlanta 4-3 on Wednesday to end the Braves' 10-game winning streak.

The Nationals (65-94) salvaged a game from the three-game series and won their final road game of the season. The Braves (75-84) took the season series 9-4.

Wood launched a 445-foot homer in the sixth and a 436-foot shot in the eighth, giving him 30 for the season. It was his third multi-homer game of the season and fourth of his career.

Woods became the second Nationals player to have 30 homers and 15 steals in a season, joining Alfonso Soriano from 2006.

Washington starter Andrew Alvarez was removed after pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings before he had a chance to work through the lineup a third time. Alvarez allowed two hits and three walks, striking out five, and lowered his ERA to 2.31.

Mitchell Parker (9-16) got the final two outs of the fifth and picked up the win. Jose Ferrer earned his 10th save, despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Washington pitchers shut down Atlanta sluggers Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna Jr. in key situations. The duo could not drive in a run with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and left two runners on base in the seventh. Atlanta went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded ten runners on base.

Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (8-11) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits -- two of them homers -- with no walks and seven strikeouts.

The Nationals scored a run in the first inning on an RBI single by Daylen Lile that scored C.J. Abrams; Lile went 3-for-4 and lifted his batting average to .296.

Washington added a solo homer from Josh Bell, a 429-foot solo home run, his 21st, in the fourth.

The Braves scored with a trio of solo homers. Drake Baldwin hit his 19th in the sixth and Marcell Ozuna hit his 21st homer in the eighth, his first since Aug. 13. Eli White hit a pinch-hit homer to lead off the ninth, his 10th.

--Field Level Media

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