The Washington Nationals blew a chance to get back to .500 in the 2026 regular season after falling, 11-1, against the Cincinnati Reds
Thursday marked another chance for the Washington Nationals to get back to .500 during the 2026 regular season. It ended with yet another loss, falling to 0-5 in games when the Nationals have an opportunity to do exactly that.
Despite winning the series on the road, the Cincinnati Reds held off Washington for the sweep after the Nationals fell, 15-1, in the first humbling start for Foster Griffin.
In his second loss of the season, Griffin allowed nine earned runs, seven hits and two home runs while tossing seven strikeouts and three walks in 4.1 innings. Griffin entered the start allowing just 11 earned runs in eight starts. Zak Kent stepped in where he also allowed a pair of earned runs in 2.2 innings pitched before Joey Wiemer stepped on the mound to help close out the game.
The home runs started early after a two-out two run shot in the bottom of the second inning opened the scoring for Cincinnati.
Washington, meanwhile, notched one hit through the first four innings.
For Cincinnati, they notched six runs through the first four innings after a two-out RBI single into center then double into left field added two runs each before Foster Griffin's final strikeout of the day ended the inning.
After giving up a leadoff double then walking the third batter of the frame, Griffin's final pitch of the day came on a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Kent's home run allowed came in the seventh inning after JJ Bleday challenged a pair of strike calls, getting one overturned to allow him to belt a 366 foot, two-run home run to push it to a blowout loss.
CJ Abrams and James Wood, meanwhile, both exited the game due to rest in the sixth inning.
The Nationals offense was able to break the scoring drought in the eighth inning after Drew Millas opened with a leadoff single into leftfield before a challenge from Luis Garcia Jr. drew a walk to put a second runner on base. Garcia and Millas then advanced after a fielder's choice before a wild pitch allowed Millas to cross the plate.
Cincinnati would then add insult to injury after adding four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Now standing at 21-23 overall, the Nationals will return home in the first round of the Beltway Series against the Baltimore Orioles with the three-game series set to begin on Friday at Nationals Park.
Nationals Roundtable also offers a fan community. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Nationals. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our free community and follow for all of our coverage, analysis and more!