WASHINGTON -- Even on a day when he didn't play in the field, the big bat of James Wood still made its presence felt.
Wood launched his ninth home run of the season off Mets reliever Jos¨¦ Ure?a, a 110.6 mph blast on a changeup well into the right-center-field bleachers to spark a five-run eighth inning. Nathaniel Lowe followed with his fifth homer, but it was too little, too late in Washington¡¯s 19-5 loss to New York at Nationals Park on Monday.
"He crushed that ball,¡± Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of the Statcast-projected 438-foot homer. ¡°It was loud. I really liked Nate's at-bat too, hitting a home run the other way was awesome. Our bats got better.
¡°The game was a little bit out of hand, but we got some balls in the zone and we started hammering some balls. That goes to show you what we can do when we don't chase, when we get balls in the zone. We got to do that early in the game."
Wood has maintained a nice rhythm over his last seven games, hitting .333 (9-for-27) with three doubles, two homers, three RBIs, five walks and four runs scored. He has reached base safely in eight straight games.
After beginning the game with a groundout, a walk and a strikeout against Mets starter Griffin Canning, Wood was happy to finally connect against the bullpen.
"Baseball, the clock never runs out,¡± Wood said. ¡°Every at-bat is important and you just can't give at-bats away. He made good pitches today. You got to be ready for a good pitch to hit."
The Padres¡¯ 2021 second-round Draft selection was the Nationals¡¯ designated hitter Monday, a chance to give his knees less work in the outfield.
"It's a little bit easier on the legs, but it doesn't matter, as long as I am in the lineup,¡± he said.
The problem for the Nationals on Monday was going after pitches out of the zone, leaving six men on base in the first four innings. After starter Trevor Williams exited, the bullpen collapsed, allowing 13 runs in the game¡¯s final three frames, although Amed Rosario pitched the ninth.
"We got some guys on, gave us a chance when it was still close,¡± said center fielder Jacob Young, who went 1-for-4. ¡°Just weren't able to come through with that hit we needed in those moments.¡±
Despite the loss, the Nationals finished their homestand 4-3 against the Orioles and Mets, and now travel to Philadelphia and Cincinnati for the next six games.
"Those are two really good teams, both playoff teams last year,¡± Wood said. ¡°Taking a series against the O's and holding our ground against these guys, it's definitely something to go off of."