The Washington Nationals secured a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday at Nationals Park, marking the team’s first stretch of being three games above .500 since their 2019 World Series season. Central to the win was outfielder Dylan Crews, whose three-run home run in the fifth inning helped cement the Nationals’ lead.

The Nationals initially opened the scoring in the third inning with a 2-0 advantage. Nasim Nuñez singled and James Wood doubled before Curtis Mead drove both in with a line drive that deflected off the glove of Royals second baseman Nick Loftin. Kansas City responded in the fourth inning when Carter Jensen reached on a grounder that went past Nuñez, putting the Royals on the board.

Starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez delivered a strong performance through four innings, allowing only one run. Manager Blake Butera brought in reliever Brad Lord for the fifth inning, aiming to leverage Lord’s effective 2.20 ERA and relieve Alvarez before facing the Royals’ lineup a third time. After retiring Lane Thomas, Lord walked Bobby Witt Jr. and allowed doubles and singles that gave Kansas City a 3-2 lead.

The Nationals rallied back in the same inning with a series of timely hits. Keibert Ruiz and Nasim Nuñez reached safely on back-to-back singles, followed by a walk and a single by Luis García Jr. that scored two runs. With two outs, Crews then connected on a crucial home run, his fourth of the season, extending Washington’s lead. Crews, who began the year in Triple-A Rochester and was promoted to the majors on May 19, has contributed significantly on defense and the basepaths, though his batting average remains below .200. He expressed appreciation for capitalizing on a key moment with the homer, which has been a confidence booster.

Catcher Tres Barrera emphasized the importance of Crews’s hit, describing it as pivotal both for the player’s morale and the team’s momentum. Luis García Jr., who has been a steady presence offensively and defensively, highlighted the Nationals’ resilient mindset, saying the team continues to fight regardless of the score until the final out.

The Nationals’ offense leads the majors in scoring this season, and despite some early setbacks in the game, their ability to produce runs in critical moments has helped the team sustain its positive trajectory. While the Nationals remain cautiously optimistic about their potential, they continue to focus on steady day-by-day improvements as they pursue success beyond simply being above .500.