The Nationals lose 4-3 to the Padres on June 25 after a bullpen collapse wastes a gem from MacKenzie Gore and a James Wood homer. Read how the lead slipped away.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If you're a Nationals fan, you've seen this movie before, and you already know how it ends. A brilliant start from a young arm, a towering home run from a future superstar, and then... the bullpen happens. That was the script once again on Wednesday night in San Diego, as a late-inning meltdown turned a potential victory into a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to the Padres.
Rookie outfielder James Wood hit his 22nd home run of the season, continuing his breakout campaign and leading the team with 61 RBIs.
Everything was lining up for a solid road win. The Nats carried a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but the wheels came off spectacularly. Reliever Trevor Williams couldn't find the plate or the outs, ultimately surrendering the tying and go-ahead runs on key hits from Martín Maldonado and José Iglesias. It was a swift, painful collapse that handed Williams the loss and reminded everyone of the bullpen's season-long struggles, which have inflated the team ERA to a bloated 5.00.
Before the late-game drama, this was the MacKenzie Gore show. Facing his former team, the lefty was absolutely dealing. Gore spun six masterful innings, allowing just two runs while striking out seven Padres hitters. He was efficient, he was confident, and he lowered his season ERA to an impressive 3.19. It was another 'quality start' in a season full of them for Gore, who continues to look like a true top-of-the-rotation arm for the future.
While Gore was silencing the Padres' bats, James Wood was making them pay with his own. The rookie phenom launched his 22nd home run of the year, a no-doubter that underscored his incredible power. Wood now has 61 RBIs, leading the team and making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. He wasn't the only young gun contributing, as CJ Abrams chipped in with two hits, continuing to be a sparkplug at the top of the lineup. These are the performances that make the losses a little more bearable.
Losses like this inevitably turn the conversation toward the future. With the trade deadline now just over a month away, the Nationals front office remains quiet but is widely expected to be in seller mode. The bullpen's repeated failures might make some of those arms attractive to contenders looking for depth, and veteran outfielder Lane Thomas remains a prime trade candidate. While no moves were made today, the clock is ticking. The focus remains on building for tomorrow, a fact underscored by glowing reports on prospects like Travis Sykora and Alex Clemmey, who are all developing well in the minors.
So, the Nats fall to 33-46, and another winnable game slips through their fingers. The frustration is real, but so is the promise. The story of the 2025 Nationals isn't found in the final score of games like this; it's found in MacKenzie Gore's command, James Wood's power, and the pipeline of talent working its way to D.C. The present hurts, but the future continues to offer a compelling reason to keep watching.
