Nationals ride 5-run 5th inning to take down Royals

Dylan Crews' three-run homer capped a five-run fifth inning and the Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Monday night in Washington.

Trailing 3-2, Washington loaded the bases with no outs when Keibert Ruiz and Nasim Nunez singled, and James Wood walked. Luis Garcia Jr. lined a single to left, scoring two runs. Mason Black replaced starter Mitch Spence and quickly retired two batters, but Crews lined a 3-2 pitch down the left-field line to make it 7-3.

Nunez had two hits and scored two runs for the Nationals, who have won three straight while scoring 25 runs. Crews has hit two home runs and driven in seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

Washington (38-35) is three games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2019 season.

Brad Lord (5-0) allowed two runs on two hits in three innings of relief after starter Andrew Alvarez gave up one run on five hits over four innings.

Nick Loftin had a double, single and a walk, and Jac Caglianone had a double and a single for the Royals, who have lost five of six.

Spence (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Monday, allowed six runs on seven hits in over four-plus innings.

Washington took a 2-0 lead in the third. Nunez singled, Wood extended his hitting streak to seven games when he doubled Nunez to third and both runners scored on a two-out single by Curtis Mead.

Starling Marte singled with one out in the Royals' fourth inning. Loftin walked with two outs, and Carter Jensen hit a single off Nunez's glove at second, allowing Marte to score.

Kansas City took the lead in the top of the fifth. Bobby Witt Jr. walked and Caglianone doubled, with Witt stopping at third. Maikel Garcia grounded a single to right, scoring both runners to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

Loftin doubled leading off the ninth, but Gus Varland retired the next three batters.

--Field Level Media