Nats top Angels 7-4 in an 11-inning thriller on June 30, 2025. Kyle Finnegan and CJ Abrams star late as James Wood makes history with 4 intentional walks.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it seemed June couldn't end fast enough, the Washington Nationals delivered a jolt of adrenaline. In a back-and-forth thriller in Anaheim, the Nats clawed their way to a 7-4, 11-inning victory over the Angels, securing their first series win since the beginning of a brutal month and reminding fans what this young team is capable of.
James Wood became the first player in Nationals/Expos history and only the sixth in MLB history to be intentionally walked four times in a single game.
The win was a masterclass in resilience. Down to their final outs, Jacob Young sparked the rally with a game-tying RBI single in the ninth. After a scoreless tenth, the bats came alive in the 11th. Daylen Lile led off with a single, and Drew Millas delivered the go-ahead RBI double. Not content to stop there, CJ Abrams blew the game open with a two-run triple, capping his All-Star caliber first half. On the mound, Kyle Finnegan was simply heroic, pitching three perfect, hitless innings in relief to shut down the Angels and earn a well-deserved win.
While the late-game heroics stole the show, James Wood made a different kind of history. The Angels wanted no part of the rookie slugger, intentionally walking him a staggering four times. This wasn't just a team record; it placed Wood in truly elite company. He's the first player in the franchise's history (dating back to the Expos) and only the sixth player in MLB history to receive four intentional free passes in one game, a list that includes none other than Barry Bonds. It's the ultimate testament to the fear Wood strikes in opposing dugouts.
Let's not sugarcoat it: June was rough. The Nationals finished with a 7-19 record, the worst in all of baseball for the month. But this win feels different. It provides a positive bookend to a difficult chapter and offers a blueprint for the second half. The youth movement is a major reason for that optimism. Recent call-ups Brady House and Daylen Lile were right in the middle of the 11th-inning rally, scoring crucial runs. As Manager Dave Martinez noted, the organization is thrilled with House's development, and his contributions, along with Lile's, show the future is arriving right on time.
As the Nationals hit the season's midpoint at 36-48, this victory is more than just one notch in the win column. It's a momentum-builder. It's a showcase for the team's emerging cornerstones like Abrams and Wood, and a validation of the developing talent in House and Lile. While one game doesn't erase a 19-loss month, it provides a powerful reminder of the team's fight and offers a reason to look forward to July with renewed hope.
