Luis Garcia Jr. guided the Washington Nationals to a rubber match win after defeating the Baltimore Orioles, 6-4
One day after ending its four game losing streak, the Washington Nationals have taken the second series of the season against the Baltimore Orioles after taking Sunday's rubber match in a 6-4 win.
With the win, the Nationals move back above .500 to 43-42 overall and 9-3 in the Beltway Battle since the start of the 2025 season.
Sunday proved to be Luis Garcia Jr's day after posting two home runs and recording five RBIs in a 3-for-5 performance. His two home runs also pushed him to six home runs over his last six games and 11 through the month of June.
Zack Littell allowed one home run, two earned runs and three hits while tossing three strikeouts through five innings.
That home run materialized early after Pete Alonso belted a two out, two run 437 foot home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Baltimore ahead early. Despite owning just a 9-26 record entering Sunday when opponents score first, Washington was undeterred in the bounceback win.
Washington would tie then take its first lead in the third inning after Garcia belted a two out double into center that brought in both James Wood and Keibert Ruiz. Curtis Mead then followed it up by staying safe at second on an error that allowed Garcia to then cross the plate for the first time of the day.
James Wood opened the fifth inning with a walk to put a runner on base for Garcia, who belted his first of two home runs after taking an 86 mph changeup 401 feet over the right field wall to push the Nationals ahead, 5-2.
Two innings later, Garcia's second home run came on a replay review after taking a 94 mph four seam fastball 377 feet to right field.
Mitchell Parker stepped in to relieve Littell in the sixth inning, but it would be the seventh inning where his usual struggles emerged after giving up a two-run home run to cut the lead in half. After giving up a walk to the next batter, Richard Lovelady came in to close out the inning before PJ Poulin stepped in for the ninth.
The Nationals will now head north on Monday in hopes of maintaining momentum on the road when they take on the Boston Red Sox, who have won three straight and sit 35-46 overall ahead of their Sunday Night matchup against the New York Yankees.
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