Brad Lord Earns First Win as Starter, Nationals Defeat Giants 4-2 With Home Runs by Wood, DeJong, and Bell

Saturday, August 9th, 2025

Nationals Top Giants 4-2 Behind Brad Lord’s Breakthrough Start

Brad Lord delivered six strong innings to capture his first major league win as a starting pitcher, leading the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The Nationals, snapping a two-game scoreless streak, were powered by home runs from James Wood, Paul DeJong, and Josh Bell.

James Wood Leads Off with a Bang

James Wood wasted no time putting Washington on the scoreboard, launching Carson Whisenhunt’s third pitch of the game for his 25th home run of the season. The shot, Wood’s first homer in a month, gave the Nationals an immediate lead and momentum that never let up. Wood later added an RBI double in the sixth to extend the Nationals’ advantage to 4-0.

Back-to-Back Homers Fuel Early Surge

In the third inning, Paul DeJong and Josh Bell hammered back-to-back home runs off Whisenhunt. Their blasts continued to build the Nationals’ lead, providing support for Lord as he navigated the Giants’ lineup.

Brad Lord Secures First Win as Starter

Brad Lord, a 25-year-old rookie, earned his third win of the season and the first as a starting pitcher. Over six effective innings, Lord allowed just one run on four hits, striking out five and walking two. Though he faced pressure in multiple frames, Lord continually worked out of trouble to keep the Giants off balance.

Giants Battle Back, Devers Stays Hot

Rafael Devers homered for the second consecutive day, providing one of San Francisco’s two runs. Dominic Smith doubled to extend his major league-best hitting streak to 13 games. Wilmer Flores contributed a sacrifice fly in the eighth to add another run for the Giants.

Standout Relief Efforts

Konnor Pilkington and Jose A. Ferrer combined to secure the Nationals’ win. Pilkington retired three batters, while Ferrer recorded five outs for his second career save and first of this season. Ferrer struck out Matt Chapman with two on to end a key Giants rally in the eighth inning.

Whisenhunt Tagged by Nationals Power

Carson Whisenhunt, making his start for the Giants, gave up three runs on three hits in four innings with five strikeouts and three walks. All three of the home runs he allowed came off his usually reliable sinker.

Key Moment

Jose A. Ferrer’s clutch strikeout of Matt Chapman with two runners on in the bottom of the eighth inning squashed a crucial Giants threat and preserved the Nationals’ lead.

Key Stat

All three Nationals homers were delivered on sinkers from Whisenhunt, highlighting a rare vulnerability in the Giants’ top pitching prospect’s arsenal.

Up Next

The series wraps up Sunday as veteran Giants right-hander Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.29 ERA) opposes Nationals All-Star MacKenzie Gore (4-12, 4.29 ERA) on the mound.

In summary

The Washington Nationals ended their two-game drought with a convincing 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, powered by home runs from James Wood, Paul DeJong, and Josh Bell. Rookie Brad Lord earned his first win as a starter with a six-inning, one-run performance. The Giants got late offense from Rafael Devers and Wilmer Flores but could not overcome the Nationals’ early surge and effective bullpen. The matchup sets the stage for a compelling series finale between Justin Verlander and MacKenzie Gore.

MLB Schedules

Today's MLB Games

There are no baseball games today.

Tomorrow's MLB Games

There are no baseball games tomorrow.

Yesterday's MLB Games

There were no baseball games yesterday.