WASHINGTON (AP) — Top prospect James Wood launched his first career major league home run — a three-run shot — and added a two-run double for a career-high five RBIs as the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 on Saturday.
Wood’s 383-foot three-run opposite field homer put the Nationals ahead 7-0 in the second inning. He has reached base in all six games as a National, tied with Ian Desmond (2009) for second overall in club history.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Top prospect James Wood launched his first career major league home run — a three-run shot — and added a two-run double for a career-high five RBIs as the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 14-6 on Saturday.
Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Weems throws during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Giovanny Gallegos (65) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood, right, is congratulated by third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) after a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn (31) walks off the mound after being pulled during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz (20) high-fives with Washington Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez, right, after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn (31) walks off the mound after the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn (0), left, is congratulated by Willson Contreras (40) after scoring on a wild pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas, right, collides with St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn, left, while stealing second base during the first inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood, right, reacts after hitting a two-RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. At left is St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (16). (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood, left, is congratulated by third base coach Ricky Gutierrez after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“It’s definitely up there for sure, especially in a game you want to get out and get the lead early," Wood said of the home run. "That’s definitely a big moment.”
The five RBIs are tied for second all-time for a Nationals rookie. Danny Espinosa had six RBIs on Sept. 6, 2010.
“It felt good,” Wood said. “I was taking good swings, but a lot on the ground, so it felt good to get the ball in the air.”
In the third, Wood hit a double to the left field wall to score two more. The homer and double are his first extra-base hits at the big-league level.
“He got the big home run for us and then the double when they started making a comeback," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He’s been playing really well since he’s been here. I love his at-bats. He’s very patient. He’s trying to get the ball in the zone which we talked to him about since spring training. So, he’s doing well.”
Keibert Ruiz went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a three-run homer off Cardinals starter Lance Lynn (4-4).
The Nationals scored a season-high 14 runs on 15 hits with three homers and four doubles.
Lynn allowed a career worst eleven runs — 10 earned — over 2 2/3 innings on 82 pitches, with nine hits, four walks and two strikeouts, his shortest outing of the season. He allowed three homers in a start just one other time this season (April 4 vs. Miami).
“The first inning, two home runs on first pitches, they did a good job of kind of getting me out of what I do," Lynn said. "They put good swings on balls and then I wasn’t executing pitches either. So when you have all that in one day, it’s a bad day. There’s no other way to say it. I didn’t pitch well today.”
CJ Abrams drilled a solo homer over the right-center field wall, his 14th of the season on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Ruiz followed with a first pitch three-run shot to the same area, the ball traveling 403 feet.
Luis Garcia Jr. added three hits, including a double, a run and two RBIs. Lane Thomas also scored a run and had two hits, a stolen base and two RBIs.
Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore could not take advantage of the early lead, struggling with control, walking five, allowing six hits and five runs over 3 1/3 innings on 90 pitches. Jacob Barnes (5-2) tossed two scoreless innings for the win in relief. The Nationals have won three of their last four after a 1-7 slide.
“I was behind in the count so when you get out in a long inning in this heat, make it a little tougher on yourself than it needs to be,” Gore said. “This one is frustrating just for that reason. It was kind of on me, the one that was doing it. But we won the game.”
Nolan Gorman had three hits, including two doubles, but struck out in the third with the bases loaded against Gore. Brendan Donovan extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
It was the Cardinals second loss in six games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals recalled third baseman Trey Lipscomb and designated for assignment veteran third baseman Nick Senzel. It is the fourth time Lipscomb has been called up but this time he will get an extended look. Lipscomb went 1-for-5 with a run scored.
“We felt like it’s time for Trey to come up and play the majority of the time at third base,” Martinez said. “We want to give him a shot. He went down there and checked all the boxes, started swinging the bat really well.”
UP NEXT
Cardinals send right-hander Kyle Gibson (6-3, 3.88 ERA) to the mound against Nationals left-hander DJ Herz (1-2, 4.67) on Sunday.
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Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas, right, collides with St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn, left, while stealing second base during the first inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Weems throws during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Giovanny Gallegos (65) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood, right, is congratulated by third baseman Trey Lipscomb (38) after a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. The Nationals beat the Cardinals, 14-6. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn (31) walks off the mound after being pulled during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz (20) high-fives with Washington Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez, right, after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn (31) walks off the mound after the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn (0), left, is congratulated by Willson Contreras (40) after scoring on a wild pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' Lane Thomas, right, collides with St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn, left, while stealing second base during the first inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood, right, reacts after hitting a two-RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. At left is St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (16). (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Washington Nationals' James Wood, left, is congratulated by third base coach Ricky Gutierrez after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park, Saturday, July 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The FBI said former President Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination ” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt on his life.
Trump was shot during an assassination attempt at a July rally in Pennsylvania, and a bullet grazed his ear.
U.S. Secret Service agents opened fire on Sunday after seeing a person with a firearm near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf club in Florida while he was golfing. No injuries were reported. Officials say the person fled in an SUV and was later apprehended by local law enforcement.
He was identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Routh appeared in federal court in Florida Monday and was charged with federal gun crimes.
Here is the Latest:
Ryan Wesley Routh has had his first appearance in federal court.
During an eight-minute hearing, prosecutors levied two charges against him: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
Officials said Routh could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the first charge, and a possible five-year sentence on the second charge.
A bond hearing has been schedule for Sept. 23, and a probable cause hearing or arraignment has been set for Sept. 30, depending on whether the government secures an indictment on the charges.
During the hearing, Routh gave routine information to court officials as to his work status and income. Speaking in a soft voice, he said that he was working and making around $3,000 a month, but has zero savings.
Routh said that he has no real estate or assets, aside from two trucks worth about $1,000, both located in Hawaii.
Routh also said that he has a 25-year-old son, whom he sometimes supports.
Trump is blaming his political rivals’ rhetoric for Sunday’s apparent attempt on his life.
Trump said Monday in an interview with Fox News Digital that the accused gunman “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it.”
The former president went on to say, “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at, when I am the one who is going to save the country, and they are the ones that are destroying the country — both from the inside and out.”
The tone was different than the one Trump adopted immediately after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt in July, when he called for unity and a cooling of the campaign’s tenor, including during his speech at the Republican National Convention.
“They use highly inflammatory language,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “I can use it too — far better than they can — but I don’t.”
Routh, the man accused of trying to shoot at Trump on Sunday, had expressed support for Trump online in as recently as 2020, but in recent years, his posts suggest he soured on him, expressing support for Biden and Harris.
The White House responded to Elon Musk’s post on X about presidential assassinations, which stirred outrage on social media.
“Violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about,” said spokesperson Andrew Bates in a statement on Monday. “This rhetoric is irresponsible.”
Musk deleted his comment on Sunday, which he posted in the wake of a second alleged attempt on Donald Trump’s life. He had written “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.”
“Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X,” Musk wrote later.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will be demanding more Secret Service protection for Trump, saying he needs more attention than any other protectee.
“He’s the most attacked. He’s the most threatened, even probably more than when he was in the Oval Office,” Johnson, R-La., said on “Fox & Friends.” “We are demanding in the House that he have every asset available.”
The Republican speaker was on his way to visit Trump on Sunday when the former president was targeted while golfing. The suspect is now in custody.
Johnson and his wife, Kelly, visited with Trump afterward for about three hours, and the speaker said he was in “good spirits.”
The House’s bipartisan task force on the July assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania is monitoring the situation and has requested a briefing. Johnson said the panel was scheduled to hold a hearing later this month as it investigates the political violence.
“There’s going to be reports and recommendations coming forward, and Congress will act swiftly,” Johnson said. “We need accountability.”
Johnson said he has “no faith” in Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House impeached Mayorkas earlier this year over the department’s handling of immigration, but the Senate declined to consider the charges in a trial.
Ryan Wesley Routh briefly entered a Florida courtroom Monday morning for his initial appearance, wearing a dark blue jail jumpsuit and his arms and legs shackled. He sat quietly for about five minutes with no visible signs of nervousness before marshals led him back out to await his hearing.
The Associated Press filmed Ryan Wesley Routh in April 2022 at a demonstration in Kyiv’s Independence Square two months after Russia invaded Ukraine.
A placard he was holding said: “We cannot tolerate corruption and evil for another 50+ years. End Russia for our kids.” He wore a blue vest with the American flag on the back, along with a scarf and T-shirt in the colors of his national flag, while participating in a small rally.
Other participants held posters drawing attention to Mariupol, which was under siege at the time and is now occupied by Russia. That same day, Routh also paid tribute to foreign citizens killed during the war near a makeshift memorial sign reading “Foreigners killed by Putin.”
Ryan Wesley Routh has never served in the Ukrainian army nor collaborated with the military in any capacity, according to Oleksandr Shahuri, a representative officer of the Foreigners Coordination Department of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Command.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, Routh has periodically contacted the international legion with what Shahuri described as “nonsensical ideas.” His plans and ideas can best be described as delusional.”
Shahuri, speaking to The Associated Press, firmly denied any connection to Routh. The International Legion of Ukraine was created shortly after the outbreak of the war by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It consists of foreign citizens “wishing to join the resistance against the Russian occupants and fight for global security,” according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.
Zelenskyy released a statement on X regarding the apparent assassination attempt: “I am glad to hear that Donald Trump is safe and unharmed. My best wishes to him and his family. It’s good that the suspect in the assassination attempt was apprehended quickly. This is our principle: the rule of law is paramount and political violence has no place anywhere in the world. We sincerely hope that everyone remains safe.”
Trump campaign leaders are crediting the Secret Service with keeping the former president safe following an apparent assassination attempt in Florida.
In an email sent to staff Sunday evening, senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles wrote, “Today, for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.”
“Thankfully, no one was injured at the Golf Course. President Trump and everyone accompanying him are safe thanks to the great work of the United States Secret Service,” they wrote.
They added that campaign staffers’ safety is “always our top priority” and asked those receiving the email to “remain vigilant” and “observant and maintain a constant level of situational awareness."
The leaders of a bipartisan task force in Congress that has been investigating the assassination attempt on Trump at a Pennsylvania rally in July said it is monitoring the Florida situation and has requested a briefing by the Secret Service.
“We are thankful that the former President was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” said Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa. and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “The Task Force will share updates as we learn more.”
It was not immediately clear whether the incident would affect Trump's campaign schedule.
On Monday night, he was set to speak from Florida about cryptocurrency live on the social media site X for the launch of his sons’ crypto platform. Trump planned a town hall Tuesday in Flint, Michigan, with his former press secretary, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, followed by a rally Wednesday on New York’s Long Island.
Trump had returned to Florida this weekend from a West Coast swing that included a Friday night rally in Las Vegas and a Utah fundraiser. His campaign had not advised about any public plans for Trump on Sunday. He often spends the morning playing golf, before having lunch at the club, one of three he owns in the state.
The man who authorities say pointed a rifle with a scope into former President Donald Trump’s golf club and was arrested is Ryan Wesley Routh, three law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
The officials identified the suspect to the AP but spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Secret Service agents shot at the suspect, who was taken into custody after fleeing the scene of what the FBI is calling an apparent attempted assassination of the Republican presidential nominee. Authorities are working to determine a motive.
— By Associated Press reporters Colleen Long, Eric Tucker, Alanna Durkin Richer, Mike Balsamo and Michael R. Sisak
Police officers direct traffic near Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump waves as he boards a plane at Harry Reid International Airport after a campaign trip, Saturday, Sept.14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
FILE - Security agents talk at the entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, March 31, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
A police officer directs traffic near Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Sheriff vehicles are pictured near Trump International Golf Club, Sunday. Sept. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla., after gunshots were reported in the vicinity of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Stephany Matat)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows Sheriff's vehicles surrounding an SUV on the northbound I-95 in Martin County on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
This photo provided by the Martin County Sheriff's Office shows Sheriff's vehicles surrounding an SUV on the northbound I-95 in Martin County on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
FILE - The motorcade for President Donald Trump arrives at Trump International Golf Club, Feb. 15, 2020, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Photos that show an AK-47 rifle, a backpack and a Go-Pro camera on a fence outside Trump International Golf Club taken after an apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, are displayed during a news conference at the Palm Beach County Main Library, Sunday. Sept. 15, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephany Matat)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Harry Reid International Airport to board a plane after a campaign trip, Saturday, Sept.14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Ryan Wesley Routh pays tribute to foreign citizens killed during Russia-Ukraine war in a central square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ryan Wesley Routh takes part in a rally in central Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
