CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez proved to be clutch as the Washington Nationals closed out the series against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 3-2 win
The Washington Nationals salvaged the series at home by picking up just the fourth win at Nationals Park this season, downing the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon.
With Zack Littell initially slated to start, manager Blake Butera turned to PJ Poulin as a starter on Sunday where he posted an encouraging performance with a pair of strikeouts and one hit allowed through the first two innings. Littell came in with a strong performance, yet he would be on the mound for the Brewers' first run of the day.
The Nationals would be no hit through the first four innings, but the Brewers would not fare much better either after posing just one hit over the same span. Luckily for Washington, the bats would pick up to do just enough in the win.
After the first batter of the fifth inning reached base on a bunt down the third base line, Littell walked the next batter before a sac bunt put a pair of runners in scoring position. Milwaukee brought one run in after a sac fly into center field, but the Nationals would answer right back in the bottom of the inning.
CJ Abrams opened the frame by breaking up the no-hitter on an infield single before stealing second to get in scoring position. That mattered because a single into center field by Nasim Nunez would tie the game before a triple courtesy of Jose Tena gave the Nationals its first lead of the day, going ahead 2-1.
Abrams and Nunez would team up again in the seventh inning to tally another run after Abrams opened the frame with an infield single before advancing to second on a balk by Brian Fitzpatrick. Another RBI single into right field pushed Washington's lead to 3-1 to add the late insurance run.
Mitchell Parker would preserve the late lead as he retired all six batters faced before Gus Varland came out to close the game.
The Nationals were dealt some bad news after Luis Garcia Jr also left the game in the sixth inning due to a right wrist soreness, leading Curtis Mead to replace him at first base.
The Brewers would threaten in the top of the ninth after adding a run with Richard Lovelady replacing Varland, managing to end the game on a strike out despite a runner in scoring position.
After moving to 16-19 overall and 4-12 at home, Washington will enjoy an off day on Monday before returning to Nationals Park to host the Minnesota Twins for a three game series, marking the only meeting between the two teams this season.