James Wood hits his 20th homer, but the Nationals' bullpen falters in a 6-5 loss to the Dodgers on June 21, 2025. Read how Wood's power wasn't enough.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another one of *those* nights in Los Angeles. A game the Washington Nationals had in their grasp, only to see it slip away in a frustrating 6-5 loss to the Dodgers. While the final score stings, dropping the Nats to 10-13 on the season, the real story wasn't written on the scoreboard. It was written in the batter's box, where superstar-in-the-making James Wood continued to prove he's the most exciting thing in D.C. sports right now.
James Wood has reached the 20-homer milestone before the end of June, with four of those coming in his last seven games.
For a while, it looked like the Nats were ready to steal one on the road. Jake Irvin delivered a respectable start against a tough Dodgers lineup, battling their ace Dustin May and handing a lead to the bullpen. Keibert Ruiz, quietly one of the best-hitting catchers in the league, continued his torrid pace, entering the game with a .329 average. But as has been a painful theme on this 4-9 road record, the relief corps couldn't slam the door. The Dodgers' offense, even relying on reserves, found a way to capitalize late, chipping away until they had the lead for good. It's a tough pill to swallow when you play a team that close, only to fall short.
Let's be clear: James Wood is on another planet right now. Even in a loss, he was a force. Entering the night hitting .284, he officially hit the 20-homer milestone. He's not just a bright spot; he's a supernova lighting up an offense that desperately needs it. With four home runs in his last seven games, Wood is not just having a breakout campaign; he's putting together an All-Star, and maybe even MVP-caliber, season. Every time he steps to the plate, you have to stop what you're doing. That kind of excitement is priceless, win or lose.
The bullpen's struggles are frustrating, but the front office is clearly working on a solution from within. The best news of the day might have come from Double-A Harrisburg, where reliever Derek Law officially began his rehab assignment. Sidelined all season, Law was a rock in 2024, posting a stellar 2.60 ERA over 90 innings. His return can't come soon enough. Looking further ahead, the pitching pipeline is brimming with talent. Top prospects Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana are turning heads with their development, and recent acquisition Alex Clemmey is flashing high-octane stuff. The focus on building a sustainable pitching factory is evident, giving fans hope that today's bullpen issues are a temporary problem, not a permanent one.
So yes, another loss on the road hurts, and a 10-13 record isn't where anyone wants to be. But this isn't just a team playing out the string. It's a team with a bona fide superstar in James Wood, a key bullpen arm on the mend in Derek Law, and a farm system ready to fuel the next wave. These are the building blocks. Tonight was a loss, but the future continues to look brighter. Let's see if they can even the series tomorrow.
