Nationals Rally Past Pirates 4-3: James Wood Scores Go-Ahead Run After Oneil Cruz Error – Game Recap & Highlights (Sept. 14, 2025)

Sunday, September 14th, 2025

Nationals Rally to Edge Pirates 4-3 After Early Deficit

The Washington Nationals overcame a three-run, first-inning deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in a thrilling MLB matchup at Nationals Park. James Wood scored the go-ahead run from first base when center fielder Oneil Cruz misplayed Dayton Lile's eighth-inning double, allowing the Nationals to capture the win on Sunday.

Pirates Suffer Another Losing Season

Pittsburgh, now at 65-85, wrapped up a 1-5 road trip that cemented their seventh consecutive losing season and the 29th in the last 33 years. The Pirates put runners on the corners in the ninth inning, but rookie Clayton Beeter, pitching for a third straight day—a first in his career—struck out Bryan Reynolds for his inaugural big league save.

Nationals Stay Hot in September

Washington, improving to 62-87, took two out of three games from Pittsburgh and has now won nine of its last 13 contests, providing a bright spot for the rebuilt roster as the season winds down.

Defensive Miscue Helps Decide Game

With the game tied 3-3 in the eighth, reliever Isaac Mattson issued a walk to James Wood before Dayton Lile belted a double to left-center. Oneil Cruz's misplay in the outfield allowed Wood to score all the way from first, making it Cruz's 11th error of the season—three more than any other major league center fielder entering Sunday.

Pitching Performances

Jackson Rutledge (4-2) worked a one-hit eighth inning for the Nationals, holding the Pirates at bay before Beeter closed it out. Starter Cade Cavalli went five innings for Washington, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks. Pirates starter Karl Burrows left his 18th start after 4 1/3 innings and 61 pitches as his team monitors his workload during his return from Tommy John surgery in 2023.

Early Offense and Key Moments

Nick Gonzales gave Pittsburgh an early lead with a two-run, two-out triple in the first, followed by a run on a wild pitch. Washington responded in the second inning, tying it up with Paul DeJong's RBI double, Nasim Nuñez’s sacrifice fly, and Jacob Young's RBI single.

Key Moment

Nationals pitching retired 20 straight Pittsburgh batters after Cade Cavalli hit Joey Bart in the first inning, until Oneil Cruz broke the streak with a double in the eighth.

Key Stat

Pittsburgh’s 23 road wins are the second fewest in the major leagues, trailing only the Colorado Rockies' 18 heading into Sunday’s action.

Up Next

The Pirates return home where right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.47 ERA) will start Monday against the Chicago Cubs and Jameson Taillon (9-6, 4.15 ERA). The Nationals send lefty Mitchell Parker (8-15, 5.69 ERA) to the mound against the Atlanta Braves and Spencer Strider (5-13, 4.86 ERA).

In summary

The Washington Nationals rallied to secure a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, erasing an early three-run deficit and capitalizing on a decisive error in the eighth inning. Despite a fast Pirates start, Nationals pitching dominated the middle innings and late-game heroics delivered a series win as both teams look ahead to their upcoming matchups. The game underscored ongoing struggles for Pittsburgh, now solidifying their latest losing campaign, while Washington continued its late-season surge.

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