Nationals’ MLBbros Continue To Be Orioles’ Kryptonite In Battle of Beltways: CJ Abrams & James Wood Are A Problem

BALTIMORE — Sitting just outside of the visitor’s locker room, Nationals rising rookie James Wood carved up some crabs for his Tuesday dinner — the completion of a two-course meal that started with the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Wood wasn’t the only bro bomber that sliced and diced the orange birds on Tuesday. All-Star shortstop C.J. Abrams and Wood combined for 7-for-8 from the plate in a 9-3 rout over the Orioles.

 

 

Although they went a combined 0-for-7 in a 4-1 loss to Baltimore on Wednesday, both Bros put the league on notice with their performance this season against one of the best teams in baseball.

 

The performance of the duo was the second time a Nationals MLBbro got the best of Baltimore in 2024, as on May 7, third baseman Trey Lipscomb sent Corbin Burnes to the showers with an RBI-single in a 3-0 win over the squad.

 

In the aforementioned May contest, Abrams struck out three times and Wood was still in the minor leagues, but that didn’t stop either from showing out at Camden Yards.

 

Tuesday’s Bro Show started out with a double from Abrams. While a big play, Wood seemed to one-up his teammate almost immediately as he brought in Abrams and advanced Juan Yepez on an RBI single.

 

“We always talk about how smart he is,” Washington manager Davey Martinez said when asked about Wood, “Tonight’s an implication of what he really can be.” 

 

The game continued what has been a tear for Wood, who in the 15 games prior, batted .358 with 12 RBIs and four stolen bases.

 

Abrams’s fortune hasn’t been the same, as in the month before the contest he had a .169 batting average and struck out 17 times. But, Abrams said he’s tried to be “more relaxed” at the plate and it worked out.

 

“It’s always good to get three hits, take it into the next game.” Abrams said. “Keep it positive.” 

Get Used To Seeing CJ Abrama and James Wood Do Damage 

 

Throughout the game, Wood and Abrams traded hits, while Wood crossed home plate three times and Abrams scored just one less time.  As Abrams typically found himself on base when Wood came knocking, Abrams said he was trying to “get out” on the basepath for Wood, and it worked out more times than not.

 

“He’s doing his thing,” Abrams said. “We knew he’d be pretty good.” 

 

With four hits, Wood became the seventh Nationals rookie to record multiple four-hit performances, and the Maryland native did it in the ballpark he grew up attending.

 

 

With the Nationals sitting at fourth in the NL East, these games might not mean much for the standings, but it was Washington’s second win over the 71-50 Orioles, granting it a respectable 2-2 split in the Beltway Battle.