WASHINGTON — Curtis Mead hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning Tuesday and the Washington Nationals defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-4.
Nasim Nunez opened the bottom of the seventh with a walk against reliever Daniel Lynch IV (2-1), went to second on a groundout and stole third. After Andres Chaparro walked, Mead homered to left-center, putting Washington on top 6-3.
Nunez had two triples, two walks and three runs for the Nationals, who have won four consecutive games. Washington has taken the first two games of the three-game set, its ninth series victory (to go with one split) in the past 11.
Paxton Schultz (1-2) pitched one scoreless inning for his first major league win. Gus Varland pitched around a homer and a walk in the ninth for his sixth save.
Former National Lane Thomas homered and walked twice while Bobby Witt Jr. had three hits and a walk for the Royals, who have lost six of their past seven games.
Kansas City third baseman Maikel Garcia exited the game in the sixth inning due to left hand soreness.
Trailing 3-1, the Royals tied it in the top of the seventh. Thomas drew a one-out walk against Orlando Ribalta, and Witt singled. Both runners advanced on Jac Caglianone’s groundout against Richard Lovelady and scored when Isaac Collins lined a single to left.
Drew Millas singled leading off the Washington third before Nunez tripled down the right field line to make it 1-0. Nunez scored when James Wood hit a sacrifice fly to center.
The Royals pulled within 2-1 in the fifth. Tyler Tolbert singled with one out, Thomas walked with two outs and Witt lined an RBI single to right.
Nunez tripled to the wall in right-center leading off the bottom of the fifth, and Wood grounded a single up the middle to make it 3-1. Mead walked with one out, but Royals starter Michael Wacha struck out CJ Abrams and got Dylan Crews to ground into a fielder’s choice.
Washington starter Foster Griffin left with the lead after giving up a run on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Wacha gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings. He issued one walk and fanned three.
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