The Los Angeles Dodgers were in complete control on Saturday after handing the Washington Nationals their fourth consecutive loss of the 2026 season
Saturday proved to go a lot like Friday for the Washington Nationals, ending in a 10-5 loss with the Nationals not within striking distance for much of the game en route to dropping the fourth consecutive game of the 2026 season.
The Dodgers posted three multi-run innings, including a 5-0 lead by the end of the second inning to put the game out of reach.
Jake Irvin drew his second start of the season where he finished with four strikeouts and two walks to go with six earned runs and eight hits allowed in just four innings, exiting the game with the Nationals trailing 6-1 before Washington added another in the bottom of the frame.
But the Dodgers made him pay early and often after Irvin gave up a single and walk before Freddie Freeman's two run double opened the scoring. Irvin got out of the jam with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning, but he'd only find himself in another jam in the second inning before another two run RBI from Freeman pushed the Dodgers ahead, 5-0. A two-out RBI single in the third inning pushed it to 6-0 before Luis Garcia Jr gave Nationals fans something to cheer about after his two-out triple in the bottom of the inning brought home Jacob Young after his infield single.
After being acquired by the organization earlier in the week in a trade, Curtis Mead's first hit as a National ended in a second run after his double brought in CJ Abrams, who walked to reach base before stealing second. The Dodgers then threw water on whatever hopeful comeback was in the works after Brad Lord gave up a three run home run in the fifth inning, the third consecutive hit allowed to open his appearance.
Abrams added a late highlight with his third homer of the season after his 361 foot home run over the right field wall narrowed the gap, cementing a 10-5 loss.
Washington, now 3-5, will look to pick up the first home win of the 2026 season when they close out the series on Sunday with opening pitch set for 1:35 PM. Foster Griffin is set to take the mound to round out the rotation and make his second start as a National.