By Mmesoma 
James Wood delivered the most electrifying performance of his young MLB career on Thursday night, going 5-for-6 at the plate to help power the Washington Nationals to an 11-7 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
The 21-year-old outfielder, who has quickly become one of the most talked-about rookies in baseball, smashed through personal milestones and team records in a game that saw the Nationals rack up 17 hits in total. Wood’s breakout included a double, four singles, three RBIs, and two runs scored, cementing his status as a rising star in the league.
“This was just one of those nights where everything clicked,” Wood said postgame. “I felt comfortable in the box, saw the ball well, and just tried to keep it simple.”
Wood wasted no time getting started, leading off the second inning with a hard-hit single to right. He added hits in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and ninth innings — each one louder than the last. His fifth hit, a line-drive single up the middle in the final frame, drew a standing ovation from Nationals fans in the crowd and cheers from his dugout.
While Wood stole the spotlight, the Nationals’ offense as a whole was relentless. CJ Abrams added three hits and drove in two runs, while Keibert Ruiz and Luis García Jr. each contributed with timely RBIs. The Nationals scored in six different innings, keeping pressure on a Tigers pitching staff that struggled to find consistency.
On the mound, Nationals starter Jake Irvin lasted five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, but picked up his sixth win of the season thanks to the offensive cushion. The bullpen held strong through the middle innings before a shaky ninth saw the Tigers plate a few late runs — but it was too little, too late.
Tigers starter Reese Olson took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) in just 4.1 innings. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson each homered for Detroit, but the team couldn’t keep pace with the Nationals’ torrid hitting.
Wood’s five-hit performance makes him the youngest Nationals player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. It also marks the first five-hit game by a Nationals player since Juan Soto in 2021.
“I’ve been saying for a while, this kid is special,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s got all the tools, and tonight he showed what happens when they all come together. It was fun to watch.”
With the win, the Nationals improved to 45-39 on the season and continue to stay in the mix in a tightly contested NL East. The Tigers, meanwhile, dropped to 39-45 and have now lost four of their last five.
Washington and Detroit will meet again on Friday night for the second game of their three-game series. All eyes will be on James Wood to see what he does for an encore.