Washington Nationals Flip the Script, Sweep Angels This Weekend

The Nationals returned to Washington and flipped the script from the rest of the 2026 regular season.

After returning home from a winless six game road trip, the Nationals completed the sweep against the Los Angeles Angles after pulling out a 6-5 win on Sunday, the third consecutive one run win. The irony is the Nationals -- who also added to the MLB record with the 39th blown save this weekend -- delivered three blown saves to the Angles' bullpen in order to add some late season magic.

The Nationals made a pregame switch after manager Blake Butera revealed that Riley Cornelio would serve as the opener, lasting a pair of innings and 34 pitches while tossing four strikeouts and giving up one hit. Jake Irvin then pitched in relief where he tossed six strikeouts and gave up three earned runs and two hits in an encouraging outing, but it was Erik Tolman who picked up the win and Jack Sinclair, who was called up last week for his MLB debut, securing the save.

James Wood delivered a 2-for-4 performance, but also found himself at the source of criticism after not giving effort on his run to home plate in the first inning before being called out. Butera said postgame that Wood immediately apologized for the play that quickly drew criticism among the fans.

With the game scoreless through three innings, the Angels got on the board first after Irvin gave up a 407 foot solo home run in the fourth inning, then a 440 foot home run to fall behind, 2-0.

Washington would get it all back in the sixth inning after CJ Abrams belted a double in his multi-hit game, letting Yohandy Morales drive in an RBI single for the first run before a fielder's choice from Brady House brought in the second run. The Angels then answered back in the eighth inning with a pair of runs, first on a wild pitch then sac fly, before the Nationals put together magic in the bottom of the inning.

Daylen Lile's triple brought in Yohandy Morales after this leadoff single, then Jorbit Vivas and Jacob Young delivered consecutive hits to first tie the game then re-take the lead for good. Dylan Crews added an insurance run that came in handy after his RBI single pushed Washington ahead, 6-4.

Sinclair gave up a leadoff double in the ninth before a grounder drove in both the run and second out, but his lone strikeout of the game would be what sealed the win at Nationals Park to close out the weekend.

The Nationals will enjoy an off day on Monday before hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for a two game series beginning Tuesday.