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Here are your Washington Nationals Morning headlines, news, analysis, and more for Monday, April 13, 2026
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GAME RECAP
🔥 HEADLINE
Nats Complete the Sweep Powered by Bats
Final Score: Nationals 8, Milwaukee Brewers 6
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Location: American Family Field
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
The Nationals chip away at the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 8-6 and completing their sweep on the road at American Family Field. The team came back after getting out to an early lead, sealing the win with four runs in the top of the seventh.
📊 THE BOX SCORE
Winning Pitcher: PJ Poulin ([2–0], 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)
Losing Pitcher: Angel Zerpa ([0–1], 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K)
Key Hitters:
James Wood: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
CJ Abrams: 2-for-4, R, RBI
Team RISP: [4-for-11]
Errors: Nats 0, Brewers 2
Attendance: 26,924
🎙️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
"This is one of those back-and-forth games against a really tough team where we just kept rising to the occasion and kept ringing the bell and going back at them. I couldn't be more proud of our group all the way around," said manager Blake Butera on yesterday’s performance.
📅 NEXT AT BAT
Next Game: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 13, 6:40 PM ET, PNC Park
Probables: Nats — Cade Cavalli, Pirates — Paul Skenes
Key Storyline: Can the Nats bats keep on their hot streak? How will they fare against the reigning Cy Young winner?
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
Who was tonight’s MVP?
✅ Wood
✅ Abrams
✅ Poulin
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
For more on the series finale against Milwaukee, be sure to check out the game notes from yesterday’s matchup.
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Bats Take Over
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
To get their first sweep in Milwaukee since 2006, the Nationals had to seriously bring it to their opponent and make sure their bats were on fire all weekend long. They did this through beating the Brewers at their own game, strategically putting the ball in play and systematically breaking the other team down, hit by hit.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
The first game of the series on Friday saw the Nationals have to come back against the Milwaukee Brewers to win the game 7-3 with four runs scored in the decisive ninth inning, which was made possible by three bunts that inning by Joey Wiemer, Jorbit Vivas, and Drew Millas
This small ball approach was continued into Saturday’s game in Milwaukee, where all three runs of the Nats’ 3-1 win came off of doubles, with the first two coming from a James Wood double in the fifth inning and the third coming from a Keibert Ruiz double in the ninth inning
What helped the offense’s comfort level to play small ball and not feel like they had to get runs immediately was starting pitcher Foster Griffin, who pitched a no-hitter through five innings and only gave up one hit and three walks by the time he was taken out
Save for James Wood’s home run in the fourth inning and CJ Abrams stealing home, every run the Nationals scored in yesterday’s 8-6 win was a combination of an Abrams sacrifice fly and multiple singles by four different Nats batters
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
“It’s been a big focus of ours, being able to do the small things very well. We talked about it going into this series specifically, knowing the type of team Milwaukee has and knowing they’re going to be coming at us all day long and we’re going to have to go right back at them,” said manager Blake Butera on the team’s use of small ball during their weekend series.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think of the Nats’ recent strategic use of small ball? Do you think it’ll continue further into the rest of the season?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
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theFUTURE
Via Washington Nationals
⚾ DUGOUT DISPATCH
It was a busy weekend for the Nationals’ minor league teams, as all of them finished off extended series that lasted nearly a week. While some teams fared better than others, no team left their series without winning multiple games.
📊 THE BOX SCORE:
The Red Wings took their series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs yesterday afternoon, 6-4, after shutting out the IronPigs 5-0 in their Saturday game, with Andry Lara going five innings and only giving up two hits and one walk
Harrisburg bounced back strong yesterday afternoon, beating the Akron RubberDucks 9-2 and taking the series after dropping both Friday and Saturday’s matchups 8-6 and 11-3, respectively
The Blue Rocks beat the Hudson Valley Renegades 5-2 yesterday, bolstered by a strong start from Josh Randall, who only allowed one hit while striking out five across four innings, nearly getting the series sweep after winning Friday’s game 3-1 and Saturday’s game 8-6
Fredericksburg lost their final matchup against the Hill City Howlers in Lynchburg 5-2, despite starter Landon Harmon having a good three innings, only allowing two hits and one walk with zero runs, earned or unearned
🗣️ LOCKER ROOM LORE
The Red Wings thrived yet again off their strong pitching to take the series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Particularly with the shutout on Saturday, starter Andry Lara and the bullpen gave up just three hits and two walks while racking up a collective total of 10 strikeouts. Relief pitcher Julian Fernández even recorded a perfect inning in the fourth inning. Overall, when the pitching is as good as it has been for Rochester, the team seems to thrive, particularly because it gives the batters enough time to warm up and not feel frantic, as it took three innings for them to get on the board on Saturday.
💬 FAN’S CHOICE
What do you think about everyone’s nearly week-long series now that they’re over? Who do you think came out of them in the best shape?
📬 SUBSCRIBER CTA
For more on the success of Red Wings pitching as of late, make sure to check out this article on Andrew Alvarez.
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