SAN FRANCISCO — The Nationals got a much-needed lift Sunday as James Wood opened the scoring with a leadoff homer and Paul DeJong and Josh Bell followed with solo shots to back a strong outing from Brad Lord. A reshaped bullpen closed out a 4-2 win over the Giants, Washington’s first conventional victory since the trade deadline.
Wood’s first long ball in a month set the tone. Facing Giants lefty Carson Whisenhunt, the 22-year-old drilled a 94 mph fastball to left-center to give Washington an immediate lead and deliver a long-awaited sign that his power to the opposite field is returning. “I feel like I’ve been seeing the ball good,” Wood said. “I’m still chasing a little bit more than I would like, but I think that will come, too. I’ve just got to continue to take good at-bats and swing at the right stuff.”
DeJong, filling in at second base for an injured Luis García Jr., extended the lead with a third-inning solo homer, and Josh Bell added another long ball moments later — his second right-handed homer of the season. The three solo shots provided the cushion Washington’s starter needed to work with a lead, a difference Lord emphasized after the game. “Pitching with the lead is always easier,” he said. “Seeing a swing like that (from Wood) in the first inning, it’s like: ‘We’re here. We’re doing this today.’”
Lord delivered a quality start in his fourth outing since rejoining the rotation. He retired the first eight batters and worked out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the third with a well-executed changeup that struck out Willy Adames. He also limited damage after allowing a sixth-inning solo homer, closing his day by striking out two batters. Lord now owns a 3.28 ERA across his major-league work this season and has emerged as a dependable presence in Washington’s rotation. “He’s a hard worker. He knows how to pitch,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He believes in the stuff that he has.”
The late innings showcased Washington’s revamped relief corps. Lefty Konnor Pilkington retired the side in the seventh, and Cole Henry handled the eighth but was removed after loading the bases with one out. Jose A. Ferrer then recorded a five-out save — his first since taking over closing duties following Kyle Finnegan’s trade to Detroit — escaping a two-on jam in the ninth when Patrick Bailey ended the game with a double play. Ferrer, speaking through interpreter Mauricio Ortiz, called the closer role “a huge responsibility” and said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“They’ve been fighting, and they’re resilient,” Cairo said. “Today they came together and had good at-bats. We pitched good. We played good defense. We did the little things to win a ball game. It was a good team win.”
Why this win matters
– It’s Washington’s first traditional victory since the July 31 trade deadline; the club’s only other post-deadline win came in a 2-1 walk-off over Oakland. The early offense relieved pressure on a pitching staff that has often trailed in recent weeks.
– Brad Lord’s performance continued to establish him as a rotation piece, and Ferrer’s five-out save offered a promising glimpse of stability at the back end of a bullpen that’s been rebuilt in recent weeks.
– James Wood’s opposite-field homer signals a potential return to the approach that made him a dangerous hitter last season — timely for a lineup that has frequently played from behind.
Additional commentary and outlook
The combination of early scoring and a stronger showing from the pitching staff is a constructive sign for a Nationals team that has struggled to string wins together. Lord’s ability to attack the strike zone and work efficiently helps preserve the bullpen, while Ferrer’s willingness to handle multiple innings could give the Nats flexibility as the pen continues to settle. Wood’s regained power to left-center is encouraging for a young core that needs consistent contributions to climb out of the standings hole.
If Washington can continue to manufacture early offense and protect leads, the new-look relief group — now featuring Pilkington, Henry and Ferrer in key roles — has the potential to stabilize late-game situations. Sunday’s game provided a blueprint: get on top early, let the starter attack with confidence, and have relievers able to navigate jams and preserve narrow advantages.
Brief summary
James Wood’s leadoff homer and solo shots from Paul DeJong and Josh Bell gave the Nationals a 4-1 cushion. Brad Lord tossed a quality start, and a bullpen featuring Konnor Pilkington, Cole Henry and closer Jose A. Ferrer combined to hold the Giants, with Ferrer securing a five-out save in Washington’s 4-2 victory — the club’s first conventional win since the trade deadline.
Hopeful note
This win showed Washington can still piece together the fundamentals — timely hitting, controlled starting pitching and a resilient bullpen — and turn that into victories. If those elements align more frequently, the Nationals have a clear path to build momentum down the stretch.