A Late‑Inning Thriller at Camden Yards
The night air at Camden Yards was electric as the Washington Nationals faced the Baltimore Orioles in a pivotal matchup. Both teams entered with momentum, but the game quickly turned into a back‑and‑forth battle.
Washington struck first in the second inning when Daylen Lile doubled and scored on Jorbit Vivas' single, drawing first blood. The Orioles answered in the bottom of the frame, with Chadwick Tromp's two‑out RBI single tying the contest.
Luis García Jr. provided the spark for the Nationals, launching a 418‑foot homer off starter Brandon Young to put Washington up 2‑1. The lead held briefly as Baltimore rallied, with Pete Alonso's double and a clutch pinch‑hit single from Samuel Basallo knotting the score at 3‑3.
The bullpen became a stage for drama. Clayton Beeter delivered a flawless 1‑2‑3 ninth, while Justin Lawrence earned his first save since 2024 in his Nationals debut. Foster Griffin, throwing 112 pitches, tied his career high with nine strikeouts and posted the most pitches by a Nationals starter since Patrick Corbin in 2022.
Baltimore's eighth‑inning assault saw Chadwick Tromp single off PJ Poulin and advance on a passed ball, setting the stage for Alonso's tying run. Yet the Nationals' resilience shone as Lile's go‑ahead single off Ryan Helsley brought in automatic runner Dylan Crews, sealing a 4‑3 victory.
Griffin's performance was historic — 112 pitches, nine strikeouts, and an unearned run allowed on three hits and two walks. His effort kept the Orioles' late rally at bay and preserved the lead for the closing innings.
With the win, Washington snapped a four‑game losing streak, while Baltimore fell to three defeats in their last four outings. The teams will meet again Sunday, with Zack Littell (6‑6, 5.40 ERA) slated to oppose Kyle Bradish (5‑7, 3.64) in the series finale.