Nationals' Historic Inning Signals Rebuild Progress

The Washington Nationals have achieved a historic offensive milestone with a 10-run first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where every batter reached base, recorded a hit, and scored before the first out—a rarity since 1961. This offensive burst is part of a four-game winning streak, including a 9-3 victory over the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners, highlighted by a three-run homer from Josh Bell and rookie Daylen Lile's first career RBI. The Nationals' young core, especially James Wood—an early MVP candidate—along with CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore, shows the returns from the 2022 Juan Soto trade are materializing. Daylen Lile has also emerged as a promising contributor. Juan Soto, now playing for the New York Mets, recently had a costly baserunning error, reflecting his adjustment period in New York. The Nationals' recent performance signals their rebuild may be nearing completion.