James Wood Singles to Score Automatic Runner in the 10th, Nationals Beat Pirates 8–7.

The Washington Nationals secured an 8–7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in extra innings on April 16, 2026. In the top of the tenth inning, James Wood delivered a decisive single that drove in automatic runner Jorbit Vivas, giving the Nationals the lead. Clayton Beeter earned his first career win despite allowing the Pirates to tie the game in the ninth inning. Pittsburgh forced extra innings when Brandon Lowe hit an infield single that brought home Jake Mangum, whom Beeter had walked earlier. Orlando Ribalta closed the game to collect his first career save, while Dennis Santana took the loss for Pittsburgh after pitching in the tenth. Washington gained momentum in the fifth inning, scoring four runs largely due to a throwing error by rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin. The mistake allowed multiple runners—Drew Millas, Vivas, and Nasim Nuñez—to score. Another error later in the inning enabled Luis García Jr. to add to the Nationals’ total. The Pirates responded in the bottom of the fifth with four runs of their own. Oneil Cruz contributed with an RBI double, and Marcell Ozuna followed with a three-run home run to even the score.

The game remained competitive, with Joey Wiemer giving the Nationals a brief lead in the sixth inning on an RBI double. Griffin later recorded his first career triple, bringing in a run for Pittsburgh. Looking ahead, the Nationals are set to face the San Francisco Giants, with Zack Littell scheduled to start against Logan Webb. Meanwhile, the Pirates will take on the Tampa Bay Rays, with Bubba Chandler expected to start against Nick Martinez.