Angels fall to Nationals 7-4 on June 30, 2025, after Kenley Jansen blows a 9th-inning lead. Read how a late collapse and CJ Abrams' triple sealed the loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game the Angels had in their grasp. A 4-3 lead heading into the ninth, a chance to get back on the winning track, and then... it all unraveled. A gut-wrenching 7-4 loss in 11 innings to the Washington Nationals at Angel Stadium not only stung, but it also dropped the team to 41-42, a frustrating step back below the .500 mark in a game that felt like it was theirs for the taking.
In a bizarre subplot, Nationals rookie James Wood was intentionally walked four times, matching a feat last accomplished by Barry Bonds in 2004.
For eight innings, things looked promising. Taylor Ward kicked off the scoring with an RBI double, while Jo Adell and Christian Moore chipped in to build what seemed like a solid lead. But the bullpen, a source of both strength and anxiety this season, couldn't close the door. Closer Kenley Jansen, brought in to secure the win, surrendered a game-tying single to Jacob Young in the ninth. The game then spiraled in the 11th, with Connor Brogdon taking the loss after giving up a three-run barrage, highlighted by CJ Abrams' two-run triple that sealed the Angels' fate.
In one of the strangest strategic decisions of the season, the Angels' pitching staff seemed utterly terrified of Nationals rookie James Wood. They intentionally walked him four separate times, a tactical move that put the young slugger in the same company as Barry Bonds (2004) as the last player to receive that treatment. While it speaks volumes about Wood's burgeoning power, it was a gamble that ultimately backfired, putting other runners on base in key situations and highlighting a lack of confidence in challenging a hitter who never even got a chance to swing.
As painful as Monday's loss was, it's crucial to keep perspective. Dropping to 41-42 and third place in the AL West isn't where the team wants to be, but the Halos are far from out of it. They remain just 1.5 games behind in the American League wild card race. For a team that many counted out before the season, playing essentially .500 baseball and staying in the playoff conversation at the season's midpoint is still exceeding expectations. The challenge now is to ensure heartbreaking losses like this one don't become a trend.
This loss is a tough pill to swallow, a clear reminder of the thin margin for error in a tight playoff race. The bullpen's late-game execution will be under a microscope, and the offense needs to find ways to deliver the final knockout blow. The resilience this team has shown all year will be tested as they look to bounce back immediately and prove that this frustrating night was a blip, not the beginning of a slide.
