Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez delivered two hits, four RBIs and a stolen base during Saturday’s 6-3, 10-inning victory against the host Chicago White Sox.
Nunez acknowledged he was aiming to emulate one of his favorite players, current New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor — a path that might serve Nunez well again Sunday afternoon when Washington meets Chicago in the rubber game of a three-game set.
“Honestly, I was just like, ‘Let’s be nasty,'” Nunez said. “I told my parents before the game I was trying to channel my 2018 Lindor (then with Cleveland). I model my game after him, so I was watching some highlights and stuff. I just channeled that and just went out there to be.”
Washington evened the series behind an opportunistic attack. Automatic runner James Wood scored the go-ahead run in the 10th on a passed ball.
Nunez hit two-run singles in the fourth and 10th, and Keibert Ruiz doubled for the Nationals’ lone extra-base hit of the game.
Miguel Vargas doubled for the White Sox, who out-hit the Nationals 7-6 one night after out-hitting them 8-6 to key a 5-4 victory.
“It’s working, just putting the foot on the gas at all times,” Chicago rookie infielder-outfielder Sam Antonacci said.
The White Sox will try to rev their offense on Sunday against Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin (3-0, 3.38 ERA), who will oppose Chicago southpaw Bryan Hudson (0-0, 1.54).
Griffin is set to make his first career appearance against the White Sox. He pitched in seven games for Kansas City and Toronto over 2020 and 2022 but most recently competed in Japan.
Griffin defeated the Atlanta Braves 11-4 on Tuesday behind his first quality start, scattering five hits for three runs in six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
“We hadn’t seen him before; that’s always a challenge,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s got a lot of pitches. He’ll throw the kitchen sink at you. When you do that and you throw strikes with it, it makes it tough on the hitter, because you’re not sure what you’re going to get.
“He really showed an ability to pitch, and with a lot of different offerings.”
Hudson will serve as the opener for Chicago, as he did Friday night, when he worked around a hit and walk to notch a scoreless first inning.
Right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 4.10 ERA) is expected to follow in bulk relief. Burke took a no-decision at Washington on Sept. 27, 2025, allowing two runs — on a Daylen Lile home run — and two hits in 4 1/3 innings with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Burke has pitched to a 3.63 ERA in four April appearances, including three starts. He’s coming off Tuesday’s 11-5 victory in Arizona, when he spaced two runs and five hits in six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami is 1-for-8 with a solo home run and four strikeouts to begin the series.
Murakami has homered in six of his past eight games, but the 26-year-old rookie has four multi-strikeout games over the same span. He shares the major league lead of 11 home runs with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
–Field Level Media
