Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood hit an inside-the-park grand slam on Tuesday to help lead his team to victory [1].
The play is significant because of its rarity in professional baseball. Wood's home run was the first inside-the-park grand slam in the majors since 2022 [4].
The event occurred during a game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. [2]. The play began when Wood hit a ball that ricocheted off the glove of Mets rookie Nick Morabito [2]. The ball popped out of Morabito's glove, which allowed Wood to circle all four bases before the defense could record an out [3].
This unusual sequence of events ignited a rally for the home team. The Nationals capitalized on the momentum to secure a 9-6 win over the Mets [5].
The play highlighted a critical error by the Mets' rookie outfielder. Because the ball bounced off the equipment rather than being caught or played cleanly, the bases remained loaded, maximizing the impact of the play [2].
While the game featured several scoring plays, the grand slam remained the focal point of the contest. The final score of 9-6 reflected a high-scoring affair that was shifted by the rare four-run play [5].
“Wood's home run was the first inside-the-park grand slam in the majors since 2022”
Inside-the-park grand slams are among the rarest occurrences in Major League Baseball, requiring a combination of a powerful hit, a defensive misplay, and exceptional baserunning. This event not only provided a significant statistical anomaly for the 2026 season but also served as a pivotal momentum shift that decided the outcome of the game.
