CJ Abrams swayed his shoulders as "Swag Surfin'" by Fast Life Yungstaz blared over the Citizens Bank Park loudspeakers... This was the same old CJ Abrams, save for what he accomplished in the game's first plate appearance, perhaps as important of a predictor of his success as any this season: He drew a walk. "Wanted to get something to drive," he said. "I was staying on the fastball, and he didn't give me any good pitches to hit."
Abrams finished the Nationals' 6-4 victory 2 for 4 with that walk. His story was not the only one of significance as Washington (56-69) snapped a four-game skid... Keibert Ruiz had a game-tying two-run blast in the fourth inning for his third homer of the four-game series. Alex Call went deep for the second straight game, his fifth-inning solo shot providing a 3-2 lead.
Freaking Wood crushed the ball," Manager Dave Martinez said. "Everybody talks about 'pull the ball' - he pulled that one." James Wood pulled the first flyball of his major league career in his 42nd game - and it hit the railing of the second deck in right field, a 417-foot solo homer that provided an insurance run in the ninth.
When the Nationals are at their best, they are playing with confidence and aggressiveness... As they continue to get healthy and navigate development with their younger players, getting contributions from veterans like Abrams will be crucial for the team's future.
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