MLB's best first-inning offense strikes again as Nats roll to win

SAN FRANCISCO – Three key elements have propelled the Nationals to where they are so far in 2026, two games above .500 and showing promise under first-year manager Blake Butera: The Majors’ most productive offense, a knack for first-inning runs and a stellar record in road games.

True to form, Washington needed only 11 pitches to jump out to a quick lead in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Giants. James Wood's simmering single to left field, followed by Luis García Jr.’s laser of a home run over the right-field fence ambushed Adrian Houser and tallied the Nats’ 52nd and 53rd first-inning runs, tops in the Majors.

What’s behind that first-inning magic? García attributed some of it to Wood’s ability to get on base at the leadoff spot. To that end, Wood’s on-base percentage is .407, 53 points higher than his career high (.354 in his rookie year in 2024).

“It's really important to happen in that spot leading off, and especially that I bat right behind him,” said García through interpreter Mauricio Ortiz. “It gives me an opportunity to drive in more runs, and having him also get to first, you also have the ability for him to steal second.”

On the mound, lefty Andrew Alvarez came out of the gate hot, striking out the side in the first, but he walked a career-high five and allowed three extra-base hits in his four full frames.

Despite that heavy traffic, Alvarez weaved his way out of trouble, with the Giants going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranding six through the third.

That early escape work came up big when San Francisco mounted a rally in the fifth against a tiring Alvarez and reliever Brad Lord, coming away with two runs but stranding three more when Lord coaxed Drew Gilbert into an inning-ending groundout to CJ Abrams at shortstop.

Staked to a slim advantage, the Nats added on in the seventh thanks to two singles, three walks and a wild pitch, taking advantage of inefficient pitching by the Giants. Daylen Lile added an RBI triple in the ninth for good measure.

Lord, Richard Lovelady, Clayton Beeter and Orlando Ribalta combined for five innings of one-run ball in relief, Washington pitchers relegating the Giants to 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding 13 on the night.

“Not a huge fan of how we got into those jams, but glad that we were able to minimize and get out of some couple of those hairy innings,” manager Blake Butera said. “Ultimately, happy when they're putting zeros up. I just wish we made it a little less stressful.”

Lord was especially effective out of the ‘pen, though an awkward stumble retrieving a Rafael Devers tapper in the sixth saw Lord’s ankle buckle under him as he recovered for an improbable out, relying solely on instinct. After a visit from the trainer and a practice pitches, Lord stayed in the game, got the final out in the sixth and faced five batters in the seventh, leaving with two outs in the frame.

“I wasn't really thinking a whole bunch,” said Lord of his play, right ankle taped up after the game. “I fielded it and I felt myself fall, and I was like, '[García’s] over there somewhere, I’m just gonna throw it.' And it worked out.”

Butera was effusive in his praise of Lord’s value to the team: “He's been huge for us. The roles that he's pitched in have been a variety of situations, whether he's come in early in the game and given us some length, he's also pitched late in games with traffic, come in mid-inning, gotten out of some tough jams.”

Add all this up and the Nats backed up their status as road warriors with another scrappy win – their 23rd on the road, tied with the Braves for the most in the Majors.

Washington secured a fifth straight road series win for the first time since 2015, and finished the night tied for the third NL Wild Card spot.

“Every big league game matters, but they matter more when you're trying to push for a playoff hunt,” said Lord.

“We're a bunch of young guys that are just hungry to win,” Lord added. “We're gonna play hard for 27 outs, from the first to the ninth. That's just kind of been our brand of baseball. Play hard, play fast and punch you in the mouth from the first inning all the way to the last out.”