James Wood does something Nationals history has barely seen in wild win over Brewers
James Wood does something Nationals history has barely seen in wild win over Brewers originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Some moments in baseball make you stop and rewind, even in the middle of April.
James Wood gave fans one of those moments Sunday, turning a regular season game into something that felt much bigger for the Washington Nationals . In an 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers , Wood didn’t just have a good game. He created one of the rarest stat lines in franchise history, mixing power, instincts, and a fearless play that hardly ever happens anymore.
Home run & SB of home in same game, Nationals/Expos franchise history: 4/12/2026 James Wood 6/9/1995 Tony Tarasco 8/22/1992 Marquis Grissom 6/20/1989 Andres Galarraga 5/14/1986 Andre Dawson 5/23/1981 Tim Raines 6/18/1980 Ron LeFlore 7/25/1970 Ron Fairly https://t. co/tt40YaHK7W — Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 12, 2026 James Wood’s steal of home changed everything The biggest moment came in the seventh inning when Wood took off for home and made it. It was the kind of play you almost never see in today’s game.
That steal marked just the 12th time a Nationals player has stolen home since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. It was also the first time Wood has done it in his career. There is nothing routine about that play.
It takes timing, confidence, and a feel for the moment. Wood saw an opening and trusted it, and suddenly a close game felt like it had completely shifted. A rare combination that puts him in elite company Earlier in the game, Wood had already gone deep with a home run.