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James Wood stepped up with two outs and two men on in the eighth inning of a tied game against the Cincinnati Reds and opted to swing at the first pitch. This decisive move led to a powerful three-run homer, which propelled the Washington Nationals to a 5-2 victory, marking their first sweep since mid-June. Jake Irvin’s seven solid innings complemented Wood’s offensive heroics, giving the Nationals a significant boost in their standings.
Despite his prior struggles at the plate, Wood’s confidence paid off, reflecting his rapid climb from Class AAA to the major leagues. Earlier in the game, he endured difficult outs, narrowly missing out on hits due to strong defensive plays by the Reds. Yet, Wood’s first-pitch aggression against Reds left-hander Justin Wilson resulted in a crucial home run, demonstrating his adaptability and skill.
Equally instrumental was Jake Irvin, who returned to form after a rough patch before the all-star break, allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven. The Nationals’ offensive effort was further supported by key plays from Juan Yepez and Harold Ramírez, ensuring a well-rounded team performance. The win aligned the Nationals with the Reds in the wild-card standings, showcasing their intent to push forward in the season.
