Nationals vs Rays Recap: Crews, Wood power Washington to 4-3 win

The Washington Nationals rolled into Tampa ready to bounce back. They had lost 5-2 the night before, but this team had won its last game before that. Now they faced the Rays at their home park, and the energy was different. The Rays came out swinging first. In the bottom of the first inning, Junior Caminero lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Yandy Diaz. The score was 0-1, Tampa ahead. But the Nationals answered right back. CJ Abrams stepped up against Ian Seymour and crushed a fastball over the wall to right-center. The blast traveled 378 feet and tied the game at 1-1. Dylan Crews scored right after on a double by Nasim Nunez down the left field line. Washington had jumped out to a 2-1 lead and wasn't backing down.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Rays struck again. Chandler Simpson smacked a single to center field that scored Junior Caminero. The game was knotted up at 2-2. You could feel the momentum shifting back and forth like a tennis match. But Washington wasn't done yet. In the fifth inning, things got wild. Andres Chaparro grounded out to the catcher, and the ball went wild enough that Keibert Ruiz bolted home from third base. Wood had been on third, but Ruiz was the one who crossed the plate. Suddenly Washington had regained the lead at 3-2. The Nationals' lineup was making Ian Seymour work hard, putting pressure on the Rays pitcher every time they stepped to the plate. The score stayed 3-2 heading into the later innings.

The ninth inning arrived with the Nationals protecting their 3-2 lead. Dylan Crews stepped into the box against Cam Booser and didn't waste time. He swung hard on a cutter and sent it flying into center field. The ball rocketed 442 feet—a towering shot that no one could bring back. Crews had broken the game open with a solo blast that made it 4-2. The Nationals' young star had come through when it mattered most. The Rays fought back in their final turn. Yandy Diaz reached on an infield single to third that scored Taylor Walls, pulling Tampa Bay within one at 4-3. Clayton Beeter got the save to close out the win. Washington finished 41-37 on the season, keeping their winning streak alive. The Rays fell to 42-32, their recent struggles continuing.