With the series tied one game each, CJ Abrams took a fourth pitch changeup into the rafters for a two-run home run to give the Nationals a one-run lead in the eighth inning. 

That would be the difference, as the Washington Nationals (15-17) cleaned up the last two games of the series to win back-to-back road series.

The series did not start so hot with an 8-0 loss on Tuesday as Zack Littell allowed eight runs in his third straight start. He went 3.2 innings, allowing five hits, three walks and two home runs. 

Littell leads all Major League pitchers with 13 home runs allowed this season. The second-closest pitcher is Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, with nine. 

The Nationals' offense was shut out for only the second time this season and ended the game with only three hits. 

They would bounce back in a commanding win on Wednesday. The offense led the way with 14 runs on 15 hits.

They started the scoring in the first inning as James Wood, Curtis Mead and CJ Abrams all singled. Abrams’ single brought home Wood and Mead, which would be brought home by a Jacob Young sacrifice.

Mets’ pitcher David Peterson would start to struggle in the fourth inning. The Nationals would take advantage and load the bases before reliever Sean Manaea would take over for Peterson.

With two outs and bases loaded in the Brady House would take Manaea deep and effectively seal the game. The Nationals finished the fourth inning with a 9-1 lead.

Mead finished Wednesday’s game 4-of-5 from the plate with two RBIs and a home run that came in the top of the ninth.

Cade Cavalli also served up a nice outing, finishing six innings and allowing only two earned runs. He finished with 10 strikeouts and allowed eight hits.

The Nationals would also come away with the rubber match win, for the third win of Miles Mikolas’ last four starts.

This would be the first close game of the series. Both teams scored three runs after three innings.

Mikolas pitched four innings and allowed three earned runs off a three-run bomb by MJ Melendez.

Mikolas’ ERA continues to drop, but he stays at an 8.23 ERA after a slow start to the season.

The Mets took the lead in the sixth inning after a Mark Vientos double brought home Juan Soto.

Mitchell Parker pitched 3.0 innings in relief, where he allowed one run and recorded the win.

Luis García Jr. would lead off the eighth inning with a single. Daylen Lile would replace him at first base after grounding out to second and beating out the throw to first on a double play attempt.

Abrams would take control of the game with one swing, hitting a two-run home run to take the lead.

Gus Varland would have a relatively clean ninth inning to finish off the Nationals' road stretch with a win. 

James Wood looks more comfortable in right field. Going into the season, Wood was considered by many to be a designated hitter candidate. He finished 2025 with -7 outs above average (OAA), playing primarily left field.

Well, he’s stayed in the outfield and has put his length to use in right field. He made two huge plays in Thursday’s rubber match win, including a home run robbery against Soto.

Mitchell Parker has been a better bullpen option for the Nationals. Parker was called up from the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on April 14 to replace the injured Ken Waldichuk.

He has had five outings out of the bullpen and has recorded two wins and a hold. His 4.76 ERA isn’t too pretty, but Parker has been a positive addition compared to other bullpen options for the Nationals.

Big series for CJ Abrams. Abrams was off to one of the best starts in baseball, but had gone cold. He was 3-for-35 from the plate in his last 10 games entering the Mets series. Well, he’s turned it around. He was 6-for-11 from the plate with two walks and a game-winning home run. 

Cade Cavalli made it through six innings. For only the second time this year, Cavalli has pitched through six innings. He has struggled to extend his starts, usually reaching 90 pitches around the end of the fourth inning.  

In his 10-strikeout performance on Wednesday, he threw 97 pitches in six innings. In his last outing against the Braves, he went out for the sixth inning before allowing a single and being pulled from the game.

Nationals’ starting pitchers have been low when it comes to innings per start, which puts extra stress on an already struggling bullpen. The Nationals will need these longer outings to be more common with their starting rotation. 

Bullpen’s best series. The Nationals' bullpen allowed just one run throughout the series and played a major role in Thursday’s rubber match win. 

Parker’s one run was the only run allowed from the bullpen in this series. He pitched three innings after Miles Mikolas’ four-inning start and recorded the win. 

The Nationals are now 12-7 on the road, but just 3-10 at home—the worst home record in the league. 

They will have a chance to improve that in their next series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers are 16-14 on the season, but the Nationals swept them in their first meeting this season in Milwaukee.

Jake Irvin will take the mound as the series begins on Friday at 6:45 p.m.