{"id":2463165,"date":"2026-06-17T02:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2463165"},"modified":"2026-06-17T02:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T02:31:18","slug":"meads-3-run-hr-nunezs-big-night-lift-the-nationals-to-a-6-4-victory-over-the-royals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/meads-3-run-hr-nunezs-big-night-lift-the-nationals-to-a-6-4-victory-over-the-royals\/","title":{"rendered":"Mead\u2019s 3-run HR, Nu\u00f1ez\u2019s big night lift the Nationals to a 6-4 victory over the Royals"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Curtis Mead hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals’ Curtis Mead gestures to the fans after hitting a three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals’ Curtis Mead (45) is greeted at the plate by Nationals’ Nasim Nu\u00f1ez who scored on Mead’s three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals’ Curtis Mead is greeted by Nationals third base coach Victor Estevez after hitting a three run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals’ Nasim Nu\u00f1ez heads to home for a score during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals’s Nasim Nu\u00f1ez beats the tag by Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia for a RBI triple during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

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\n Royals Nationals Baseball<\/strong> Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/John McDonnell) <\/figcaption>

\n AP Photo\/John McDonnell <\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Curtis Mead hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Nasim Nu\u00f1ez tripled twice and scored three times for the Nationals, who will go for a three-game sweep Wednesday after handing Kansas City its sixth loss in seven games. The Royals are a season-high 16 games under .500.<\/p>\n

Paxton Schultz (1-2) got the win in relief, and Gus Varland pitched the ninth \u2014 allowing a solo homer by ex-National Lane Thomas \u2014 for his sixth save. Daniel Lynch IV (2-1) took the loss.<\/p>\n

Nationals starter Foster Griffin allowed a run and six hits in six innings with two walks and six strikeouts. A first-round draft pick of Kansas City\u2019s a dozen years ago, Griffin has allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five outings.<\/p>\n

But Isaac Collins tied it at 3 for the Royals with a two-run single in the seventh. The Nats answered immediately. Nu\u00f1ez drew a leadoff walk and then hustled to beat shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to second base, turning James Wood\u2019s roller up the middle from a double play into a regular 6-3 grounder.<\/p>\n

After Nu\u00f1ez stole third without a throw, pinch-hitter Andr\u00e9s Chaparro drew a walk and Mead sent a drive to left-center field for his 11th homer of the season.<\/p>\n

The Royals are a major league-worst 3-17 in 20 games this year against left-handed starters.<\/p>\n

Michael Wacha allowed three runs in six innings for Kansas City\u2019s 35th quality start of the season. Only the Los Angeles Dodgers have more, but Kansas City is just 19-16 in those games.<\/p>\n

Nu\u00f1ez opened the scoring with an RBI triple in the third, then scored on Wood\u2019s sacrifice fly. After Witt singled home a run for the Royals in the fifth, Nu\u00f1ez led off the bottom half with another three-base hit. Wood again brought him home, this time with a single.<\/p>\n

Nu\u00f1ez pulled even with Witt for the major league lead with 26 stolen bases. The Washington second baseman also made a diving catch of Tyler Tolbert\u2019s flare to shallow right field in the second.<\/p>\n

The banged-up Royals<\/a> removed third baseman Maikel Garcia from the game in the sixth because of left hand soreness.<\/p>\n

Up next<\/h2>\n

The Nationals send Zack Littell (6-5, 5.32 ERA) to the mound against Kansas City\u2019s Luinder Avila (1-3, 6.19) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP MLB: https:\/\/apnews.com\/MLB<\/a><\/p>\n

Copyright
\n \u00a9\u00a02026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source wtop.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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