A four-run eighth inning doomed the Washington Nationals, falling 8-6 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
After a strong start to the 2026 regular season, the Washington Nationals have now lost five consecutive games and have been officially swept in the home opening series after the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a four run eighth inning in an 8-6 finish on Sunday afternoon.
Foster Griffin tossed six strikeouts and three walks while allowing one earned run and five hits in five innings, exiting the game with the Nationals ahead. Seven different Nationals registered one hit while Joey Wiemer finished 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in the deflating loss.
Shohei Ohtani would open the scoring in the top of the third with a 438 foot solo home run into center field, but the Nationals would answer right back in the bottom of the inning thanks to Luis Garcia Jr, whose 405 foot home run drove in James Wood to put Washington ahead, 2-1.
Washington would add onto it in the bottom of the fourth after Keibert Ruiz's infield hit drove in CJ Abrams, who was walked in the second at bat of the inning before stealing second. With the Nationals ahead 3-1, Jose Tena would get on base before James Wood broke out of his slump with a 416 foot, three run home run to center field. His second blast of the season put Washington ahead 6-1 before Griffin came out for his final inning where he allowed one hit.
The Dodgers would narrow the gap with a two run home run in the top of the sixth inning before the meltdown eighth inning flipped the game.
Freddie Freeman opened the inning with a single before a double from Andy Pages put runners on second and third with no out. After Cionel Perez tossed his first walk of the day, a two run single cut the Nationals lead to 6-5. Another walk would load the bases once again before Kyle Tucker grounded into a fielder's choice was enough to tie the game at six. The next at bat, Ohtani drove in his second run of the game after his sac fly into left field brought in Santiago Espinal to put the Dodgers ahead, 7-6.
Los Angeles added an insurance run after Clayton Beeter gave up a 414 foot solo home run to open the ninth inning.
Washington will now welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Nationals Park for a three game series beginning Monday, April 6 with first pitch set for 6:45 PM.