Rookie James Wood homers as Nationals rout Cardinals

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th July, 19:42 2024

Jul 6, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) watches a home run he hit during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Washington rookie James Wood hit his first major league homer and drove in five runs, and the Nationals routed the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 on Saturday.

Called up on Monday from Triple-A Rochester, Wood had a three-run homer and two-run double and is hitting .304 after six games.

Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a three-run homer, and CJ Abrams also went deep and scored three times for Washington. Jacob Barnes (5-2) pitched two scoreless innings among three relievers who combined to allow one run over the final 5 2/3 innings.

Two of Nolan Gorman's three hits went for doubles for the Cardinals.

Despite being staked to a 9-0 lead, MacKenzie Gore left after allowing giving up five runs on six hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings.

St. Louis starter Lance Lynn (4-4) gave up 11 runs (10 earned) on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. His ERA went from 3.59 to 4.48.

Abrams led off the bottom of the first with a home run, his 14th of the season. Lane Thomas singled and, after Wood struck out, stole second. Jesse Winker walked and Ruiz homered to right center to make it 4-0.

In the Washington second, Jacob Young singled with one out. Abrams walked, and with two outs, Wood hit an opposite field shot to left and Washington led 7-0. Winker walked, Ruiz singled and Luis Garcia Jr. singled to center. Winker scored and catcher Willson Contreras threw wildly to third trying to get Ruiz, who then scored to make it 9-0.

The Cardinals rallied in the third. Consecutive singles by Gorman doubled and Michael Siani and Masyn Winn singled to plate the first run. After Siani scored on a groundout by Contreras, Paul Goldschmidt walked and Nolan Arenado lined a two-run single to left, pulling St. Louis within 9-4.

The Nationals added on right away. Trey Lipscomb singled to open the Washington third. With one out, Abrams was hit by a pitch, and one out later Wood doubled to left, scoring both runners.

Gore walked two batters in the fourth, and Winn scored from second when catcher Ruiz was unable to find a Gore wild pitch that went under the wall padding behind home plate.

Thomas blooped a two-run single to left in the bottom of the fourth to increase the Nationals' lead to 13-5.

--Field Level Media

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