Dylan Crews hit a two-run homer, James Wood threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Friday night.
Pirates Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals' James Wood runs after hitting a double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kyle Nicolas during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews hits a home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kyle Nicolas during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews follows through on his swing after hitting a home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kyle Nicolas during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals pitcher Jose A. Ferrer throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates' Alexander Canario (29) is tagged out at home plate by Washington Nationals catcher Jorge Alfaro, left, on a single hit by Joey Bart off pitcher Jose A. Ferrer during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
AP Photo/Terrance Williams
Pirates Nationals Baseball Washington Nationals pitcher Brad Lord throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dylan Crews hit a two-run homer, James Wood threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth inning and the Washington Nationals edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Friday night.
Josh Bell added a two-run double for the Nationals, who took a 6-3 lead with a four-run seventh, highlighted by Crews’ ninth homer.
Wood allowed a ball hit by Nick Gonzales in the ninth to land over his head in left field for a ground-rule double. But when Joey Bart singled with runners on second and third and one out, Wood nailed Alexander Canario at the plate with a 93 mph throw to keep it at 6-5.
Wood scored the Nationals’ second run on a wild pitch from Evan Sisk. Wood also struck out twice, both looking, to become the first player in baseball to strike out 200 times this season.
Closer Jose A. Ferrer allowed his first run in 15 appearances in the ninth inning. He secured his ninth save of the season despite allowing two earned runs.
Brady House hit his fourth home run of the season for the Nationals in the sixth inning.
Spencer Horwitz hit a two-run home run in the fifth for the Pirates.
P.J. Poulin (2-1) secured the win for the Nationals. Kyle Nicolas (1-2) took the loss.
Key moment
Crews’ home run gave the Nationals their first lead of the game. In the fourth inning, he made a leaping grab in right field to save a hit from Ji Hwan Bae.
Key stat
Bell has driven in 15 runs since Sept. 7.
Up next
The Nationals will start LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 1.86 ERA) against Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (2-1, 7.36) on Saturday.
