The Washington Nationals couldn't turn their day off into momentum, dropping game one of their home series against the Minnesota Twins in a lopsided 11-3 defeat at Nationals Park.
The loss drops the Nats to 16-20 on the season, with a particularly troubling 4-13 mark at home. Even more concerning? Washington has managed just seven total runs over their last four games—a worrying sign for an offense that started the Blake Butera era with such promise.
Starter Cade Cavalli struggled for the second straight outing, surrendering three earned runs on five hits over four innings. He managed just two strikeouts against three walks while throwing 76 pitches. The bullpen didn't fare much better. Paxton Schultz and Andre Granillo each tossed two innings, but it was Granillo who saw the game slip away, allowing four earned runs—including a home run—on four hits.
The Nationals actually drew first blood. Daylen Lile walked, and Curtis Mead doubled to left field, setting up CJ Abrams to drive in a run on a fielder's choice. But the lead was short-lived.
Minnesota answered in the top of the second. With two outs, Cavalli hit a batter, then surrendered consecutive hits, including an RBI double that put the Twins ahead 2-1—a lead they'd never relinquish.
The Twins poured it on in the fourth. Cavalli allowed a leadoff hit, walked two straight batters, then gave up a pair of runs on sacrifice hits. A two-out double to center field pushed the lead to 6-1 and ended Cavalli's night.
Mead and Lile tried to spark a comeback in the fifth, with Mead's RBI single scoring Lile to cut the deficit to 6-2. Both teams traded runs in the seventh, including an RBI double from James Wood. But the eighth inning sealed Washington's fate when Granillo allowed the first two batters to reach before surrendering a three-run homer that made it 10-3.
The Twins added an RBI double for the final run of the game, with Orlando Ribalta—recently recalled to the 40-man roster amid a flurry of moves—on the mound.
For Nationals fans, the bright spots are few: Mead and Lile continue to show chemistry, and Wood's bat remains dangerous. But the pitching staff will need to find answers quickly if Washington hopes to turn their home-field fortunes around.