In the second inning against the New York Mets, Washington Nationals slugger James Wood turned a ball in play into an inside-the-park grand slam, starting with contact in left field, bouncing off Nick Morabito’s glove, rolling into center, and racing home when
The second inning didn’t even have time to settle before James Wood turned it into a scene Washington will be replaying for a while.
Against the New York Mets on Tuesday, the Nationals slugger delivered an inside-the-park grand slam without the usual exhale of a ball clearing the fence. What made it feel so unreal was the route the ball took after it left Wood’s bat—one that turned a routine play into something rare.
Wood hit the ball well to left field. It bounced off Nick Morabito’s glove as Wood crashed into the fence. From there, the ball rolled to center field, and Wood kept running—hard—through every beat of the play.
The third base coach gave him the green light to run home. The throw home was not even close, and Wood slid in with the kind of score that almost never happens: a grand slam inside the park.
For Wood, it wasn’t that he’s new to sending the baseball over the fence—he’s no stranger to that. But this time, the story wasn’t power. It was momentum, timing, and a ball that refused to behave after it met the glove.
By the time the inning moved on, it was already clear this Mets-Nationals game had turned strange—fast. And Wood’s inside-the-park grand slam in the second inning made sure it stayed that way.
James Wood Washington Nationals New York Mets inside-the-park grand slam Nick Morabito May 20 2026
inside-the-park grand slam is just insane.
I swear those balls always bounce weird off gloves when it’s the Mets. Like dude, how do you let that roll all the way back to center? Mets better start catching with two hands or something.
Wait so he didn’t even hit it out of the park? Sounds like the left fielder messed up the bounce, not Wood. But then they say the third base coach gave the green light?? Coaches always get blamed for stuff and then suddenly it’s genius, lol.
This is why I can’t follow baseball sometimes. The ball hits a glove, bounces, rolls, then he just keeps going?? Throw home not even close?? I saw something like this once and everyone said it was luck but also strategy?? Also why does it mention Nick Morabito’s glove like that wasn’t everyone’s job.