Travis Bazzana and Curtis Mead are delivering as they break a 16-year Australian drought in baseball's Major Leagues.
But Mead holds the upper hand, with the Washington Nationals winning the first two games of their away series against Mead's Cleveland Guardians.
Mead hit two home runs in game one and was robbed of another on Tuesday in the three-game series, while Bazzana also had racked up two hits.
Baseball Australia have heralded the series as the first time in 16 years that two players from this country have faced off in starting line-ups for a major league game - Mead at third base and Bazzana at second, also as Cleveland's leadoff hitter.
The Nationals have won 10-2 and 6-3, with game three on Thursday (AEST). Washington are second in the National League East division, while Cleveland lead the American League Central standings.
Bazzana made history in 2024 as the first Australian to be taken with the No.1 pick in the MLB draft. He made his major league debut late last month.
Mead is in his fifth year as a major league player, joining Washington this season.
In the opening game, Mead's first home run was caught in the crowd by a fan wearing an Australian shirt.
pitch down under → 🗣️ AUSSIE TO AUSSIE ? pic.twitter.com/4YdbAimZna
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 25, 2026
In game two, Mead was the only Washington hitter not to hit safely. But he was robbed of another homer, with Guardians centre fielder Daniel Schneemann pulling off an outstanding catch at the wall.
James Wood hit a two-run homer and Keibert Ruiz had a two-run single in the second inning to set up the Nationals win.
Wood's towering, 401-foot drive to right field on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) was his 15th homer of the season and second in as many days.
Wood leads the majors with 49 runs and ranks third with 29 extra-base hits.
The Nationals won their fourth-straight game and improved to 19-11 on the road. Washington (29-27) have outscored the Guardians 16-5 in the series and matched their best record of the season by moving two games over .500.
Cade Cavalli (3-3) struck out seven over six innings and allowed one run on five hits. Mitchell Parker worked the final three innings, allowing a two-run single in the ninth to Bazzana, before earning his first save of the season.
Despite the losses, Cleveland are an AL-best 14-6 since May 6.
With AAP.
