CJ Abrams spent Sunday turning Nationals Park into his own power showcase, and the shortstop left with a new franchise mark to show for it.
Abrams launched two home runs in Washington’s 10-7 win over the Diamondbacks, helping the Nationals take a three-game series between Wild Card contenders and move within a game of Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot. His first homer, a solo shot off Kohl Drake in the third inning, was initially ruled in play before video review changed it to a home run. He came back in the fifth with a two-run blast off Jonathan Loáisiga to give Washington the lead for good.
That second homer was No. 27 on the season, pushing Abrams past Ian Desmond for the most home runs in a single season by a Nationals shortstop. Desmond had 25 in 2012.
Abrams has been scorching for a week now. He’s batting .567 (17-for-30) with seven homers and 14 RBIs over his last seven games, and he became the first National with seven homers in a seven-game span since Kyle Schwarber did it in June 2021. The two-homer day was his second of the season - the other came Tuesday at Colorado - and the fourth of his career.
He wasn’t the only Nationals bat doing damage. James Wood also went deep twice, becoming one of only two players with back-to-back 30-homer seasons since the team moved to Washington in 2005, joining Adam Dunn (2009-10).
Wood’s 29th homer came in the fifth, when Washington erased a 4-2 deficit. After Nasim Nuñez drew a leadoff walk, Wood sent a shot to center that chased Drake.
Daylen Lile then singled off Loáisiga, and Abrams followed two batters later with his 399-foot homer, per Statcast.
Washington added more separation in the seventh with a three-run burst. Brady House and Jacob Young delivered consecutive RBI doubles, and House finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored in his first Major League game since May 18. The third baseman was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday after the Nationals traded infielder Curtis Mead to the Red Sox for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early.
Wood added one more in the eighth, opening the inning with an opposite-field homer off Kevin Ginkel.
On the mound, Riley Cornelio (2-1) allowed one run while covering the fifth and sixth. Clayton Beeter came on in the ninth after Matt Krook walked the bases loaded, and although two inherited runners scored, Beeter got Tyler Locklear to ground out with the bases loaded to lock down his 10th save.
Neither starter made it through the fifth. Washington’s Miles Mikolas gave up three runs in four innings, including solo homers by Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte. Drake allowed four runs in four-plus innings in his second career start.
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