WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Call hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning, Mitchell Parker pitched 6 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run and the Washington Nationals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Washington earned its second walk-off win of the season and its first since April 20 against Houston.
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Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell, left, is greeted by Angels third base coach Eric Young Sr., right, on his way home on a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell, right, is greeted by teammate Kevin Pillar at home plate on a two-run home run in which he also drove in Pillar during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals grounds crew assess the condition of the field after pulling off the tarp after a day of rain before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon fields a short ground ball on a hit by Washington Nationals' Alex Call during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, tags out Washington Nationals' Alex Call, right, who was attempting to steal second base during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles’ Anthony Rendon had three hits in his first road game against Washington, where he played his first seven seasons. The Angels hadn't played a road game against the Nationals since 2017.
After rookie Nasim Nuñez sacrificed automatic runner Jacob Young to third against Matt Moore (5-3), Angels manager Ron Washington summoned right-hander Ben Joyce from the bullpen. Call worked a full count before lining a shot off the drawn-in Luis Guillorme at second base to score the winning run.
Kyle Finnegan (3-5) pitched two scoreless innings for the Nationals.
Rendon, who logged his first seven seasons with the Nationals before signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, had not played in Washington since helping the franchise win the World Series in 2019. The Nationals showed a tribute on the video board before the game and Rendon was cheered before his first plate appearance. He was 3 for 5 with a stolen base.
Kevin Pillar led off the second with a single off Parker, who later had Pillar picked off but threw it beyond the grasp of first baseman Juan Yepez. Two batters later, Adell smashed a first-pitch offering over the visitor’s bullpen in left-center for his team-high 17th home run of the season.
Parker gave up two runs — neither earned -- and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Los Angeles starter José Soriano yielded four hits over six innings while striking out seven. Washington scored its only run against him on Keibert Ruiz’s one-out fielder’s choice grounder in the first.
The Nationals tied it in the eighth against José Quijada on a pair of one-out singles from Call and Luis García Jr. and Yepez’s sacrifice fly to center, which scored Call.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Los Angeles reinstated OF Taylor Ward from the paternity list and optioned INF Charles Leblanc to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Nationals: SS CJ Abrams was scratched from the lineup about an hour before the game. … RHP Jordan Weems (shin splints) threw a bullpen session Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Los Angeles RHP Griffin Canning (4-10, 5.10 ERA) looks to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season as the series continues. Washington counters with LHP Patrick Corbin (2-12, 5.88), who is 0-3 with a 9.56 ERA in his first three attempts to earn his 100th career victory.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell, left, is greeted by Angels third base coach Eric Young Sr., right, on his way home on a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels' Jo Adell, right, is greeted by teammate Kevin Pillar at home plate on a two-run home run in which he also drove in Pillar during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals grounds crew assess the condition of the field after pulling off the tarp after a day of rain before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker follows through during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon fields a short ground ball on a hit by Washington Nationals' Alex Call during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto, left, tags out Washington Nationals' Alex Call, right, who was attempting to steal second base during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since his release from the hospital two weeks ago.
The pontiff waved at the crowd that stood and applauded as he was rolled unannounced to the front of the altar in the square.
“Good Sunday to everyone,’’ Francis said, speaking into a microphone, which he tapped to make sure it was working on a second attempt. “Thank you very much.”
The pontiff’s voice sounded stronger than when he addressed well-wishers outside of Gemelli hospital on the day of his release March 23, after battling life-threatening pneumonia during a five-week hospital stay. He has just completed two weeks of at least two months of doctor-ordered rest as he continues physical, respiratory and speech therapy, as well as treatment for a lingering lung infection.
The pope referred to his experience with illness in both the traditional Sunday blessing and the homily read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, organizer of the Holy Year that is expected to bring some 30 million pilgrims to Rome.
Addressing the sick among the crowd, the pope said in the homily read by Fisichella that "In this moment of my life I share a lot: the experience of infirmity, feeling weak, depending on the others for many things, needing support.
"It is not easy, but it is a school in which we learn every day to love and to let ourselves be loved, without demanding and without rejecting, without regretting, without despairing, grateful to God and to our brothers for the good that we receieve, trusting for what is still to come.''
He also urged the faithful not to push the fragile from their lives "as unfortunately a certain mentality does today. Let's not ostracize pain from our surroundings. Let's instead make it an opportunity to grow together, to cultivate hope.''
In the traditional Sunday blessing, he offered prayers for doctors, nurses and health care workers "who are not always helped to work in inadequate conditions, at times the victims of aggression. Their mission is not easy and must be supported and respected.''
Barry reported from Milan.
In this image released by Vatican Media, Pope Francis passe through the Holy door in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)
Pope Francis has a nasal cannula for oxygen adjusted as he arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
In this image released by Vatican Media, Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)
Pope Francis in a wheelchair speaks to faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis in a wheelchair listens to an aide at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis in a wheelchair speaks to faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis arrives on a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the Jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis arrives at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis is cheered at by faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis speaks to the faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Two seagulls sit on the arms of the cross surmounting the obelisk in front of the window from where Pope Francis used to bless the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican on Sundays, during a mass, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis arrives at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis is cheered at by faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis speaks to the faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, Sunday, April 6, 2025, part of the jubilee of the sick and the health workers. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)