James Wood highlighted a four-run ninth inning with a run-scoring double as the Washington Nationals came from behind to beat the host Milwaukee Brewers 7-3 Friday.
The Nationals used three bunts and a hit by pitch off Brewers closer Trevor Megill (0-2, 11.25 ERA) to spark an unusual winning rally.
CJ Abrams was hit by a pitch to start the inning then went to second when Joey Wiermer beat out a bunt.
Luis Garcia singled up the middle to score Abrams. Jorbit Vivas then bunted back to Megill, who threw the ball away at the plate for a 5-3 Washington lead.
Drew Millas then bunted and Megill came home again, but the throw was too late to get pinch-runner Nasim Nunez.
Wood capped the scoring outburst with his fourth hit of the game.
PJ Poulin (1-0, 4.70) picked up the win after tossing a perfect eighth inning.
The Brewers announced right-hander Chad Patrick as their starter, but switched up and used southpaw reliever Aaron Ashby as an opener.
Ashby gave up two runs in the first, but settled down to go 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and the two earned runs. He struck out four and had no walks in 44 pitches.
Patrick came on with one out in the third and went three innings. He gave up three hits and one walk in 50 pitches.
Nationals starter Jake Irvin gave up two hits and three earned runs in five innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked five in 100 pitches.
Irvin struggled in the first inning, giving up all three runs while walking three.
The Nationals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning to cushion his struggles.
Wood led off with a double to deep center field and scored when Curtis Mead followed with a single to center.
Abrams brought Mead home when he nailed a two-out double to right.
The Brewers fought right back in the bottom of the inning when Jake Bauers crushed to right a three-run home run.
The Nationals tied it in the seventh off reliever Angel Zerpa when pinch-hitter Jarod Young dropped a two-out double down the right-field line to score Garcia.
–Field Level Media
