CJ Abrams, Luis García Jr. both hit their 20th homers as the Nationals rout the Astros 8-2

WASHINGTON (AP) — CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. both hit their 20th homers of the season, and the Washington Nationals pounded the Houston Astros 8-2 on Wednesday night.

Foster Griffin (10-2) allowed one run in seven innings for Washington, which took two of three from Houston to move two games over .500. Griffin's 10 victories are the most for a Nationals rookie since the club moved from Montreal before the 2005 season.

Brice Matthews had Houston's lone RBI on a fifth-inning single.

García ripped a three-run shot to right-center in the fourth off Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti (7-5). It was the first baseman’s 11th home run in 18 games since June 19.

Abrams led off the fifth with a blast to right-center to extend the lead to 6-1. The Nationals then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to chase Arrighetti. José Tena followed with an RBI grounder and Keibert Ruiz added a sacrifice fly against reliever Alimber Santa.

It was plenty of support for Griffin, who tied a career high with nine strikeouts while allowing five hits and no walks. It was the seventh consecutive start in which the 30-year-old allowed just one run. Griffin is 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA in that span.

The left-hander, who signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Washington in December after spending the previous three seasons in Japan, had been tied with John Lannan’s 2008 total for the most victories by a Nationals rookie.

James Wood and García walked to open the third. Abrams’ one-out sacrifice fly scored Wood, and Daylen Lile followed with a double to knock in García.

Arrighetti allowed eight runs, seven hits and a career-high six walks in four-plus innings.

Houston RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 3.38 ERA) faces Texas as the Astros’ trip continues Friday. Washington RHP Zack Littell (7-6, 5.02) starts at home Friday against the New York Yankees.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' Luis Garcia Jr. steals second base during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile hits a double driving in a run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals pitcher Foster Griffin throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts singled in the go-ahead run with two strikes in the eighth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the series finale.

Betts ended the nine-pitch at-bat with his hit to center off Rockies reliever Antonio Senzatela (8-1) that scored Tommy Edman, who singled and moved to third on Freddie Freeman's double.

The Dodgers took two of three to prevent Colorado from winning its first series at Dodger Stadium since August 2021.

The Rockies loaded the bases against reliever Alex Vesia in the eighth, but Edgardo Henriquez (4-0) came in and got Karros to fly out for the third out.

Tanner Scott retired the side in the ninth to earn his 13th save.

Colorado’s Gabriel Hughes had a rough first inning in his first major league start. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up three runs, with Tommy Edman singling and scoring on Hughes’ wild pitch and a two-run RBI single by Kyle Tucker.

Hughes then settled down and retired 15 consecutive batters before Max Muncy’s double in the sixth. The Alaska native retired Shohei Ohtani three times, including a strikeout. Ohtani struck out a second time in the eighth on his bobblehead night after homering in the first two games of the series.

The Rockies answered with three runs to tie it at 3.

Kyle Karros and Edouard Julien hit solo shots off Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki in the second. Brett Sullivan walked, took second on Sasaki’s wild pitch, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Mickey Moniak’s sacrifice fly in the third.

Sasaki gave up three runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (3-2, 4.27 ERA) starts Thursday against San Francisco LHP Robbie Ray (8-6, 3.45).

Dodgers: After an off day for Los Angeles, Ohtani (8-2, 1.79) starts Friday against Arizona in the series opener.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Gabriel Hughes throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Rockies' Edouard Julien, right, heads to second for a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman stands by during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Rockies' Kyle Karros, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo watches during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)