Nationals break out of scoring slump, beat Giants 4-2 behind Lord and Wood

Advertisement

Advertise with us

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brad Lord pitched six effective innings to earn his first career victory as a starter, and the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Saturday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Monthly Digital Subscription

$1 per week for 24 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Monthly Digital Subscription

$4.75/week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

No thanks

*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Brad Lord pitched six effective innings to earn his first career victory as a starter, and the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Saturday.

James Wood, Paul DeJong and Josh Bell homered for the Nationals, shut out in their previous two games. Wood’s leadoff shot was his first homer in a month.

Rafael Devers went deep for the second consecutive day and Dominic Smith doubled for the Giants to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, the longest active run in the majors.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Brad Lord throws to an San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Brad Lord throws to an San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Lord (3-6), whose previous two wins came in relief, allowed one run and four hits. The 25-year-old rookie pitched around traffic much of the day in his third major league start and finished with five strikeouts and two walks.

Konnor Pilkington retired three batters and Jose A. Ferrer got five outs for his second career save and first this season.

Wood drove Carson Whisenhunt’s third pitch over the center-field fence for his team-leading 25th home run and first since July 9. He added an RBI double that made it 4-0 in the sixth.

DeJong and Bell connected for back-to-back homers off Whisenhunt in the third.

Whisenhunt (1-1) allowed three runs and three hits in four innings. San Francisco’s top pitching prospect had five strikeouts and three walks.

Devers homered in the sixth and Wilmer Flores had a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Giants.

Key moment

Ferrer struck out Matt Chapman swinging with two on to end the eighth.

Key stat

All three home runs off Whisenhunt came on sinkers, his most effective pitch this season.

Up next

Giants RHP Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.29 ERA) faces struggling All-Star MacKenzie Gore (4-12, 4.29) in the series finale Sunday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Report Error Submit a Tip

Baseball

LOAD MORE