There were not one but two families at Nationals Park there to watch their sons compete as major leaguers for the first time. Obviously, the Hassell family made the trip from Tennessee to see Bobby Barrels make his MLB debut - in which he went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and scored the winning run in the bottom of the tenth - but also Keibert Ruiz’s parents were in the house from Venezuela, almost four years after their son first cracked the majors (Keibert also went 2-for-5, with a double and two RBI). They had evidently applied for a travel visa four previous times and been denied each time, and somewhat surprisingly on the fifth attempt got the go-ahead from the current administration. What a memorable night for both families to witness!

This game got off to a “Ruh roh!” start when Matt Olsen and Marcell Ozuna hit back-to-back jacks in the top of the first off of Trevor Williams (who only surrendered three homers all last year and so far in 2025 has allowed seven). The Nats got one back in their half of the first when Ruiz’s double plated James Wood, then four more in the second after CJ Abrams singled home Hassell and Wood followed with a bases-clearing double. But the Barves took the lead back with three runs in the fourth, chasing Williams in the process, before the Nats responded in kind with two runs of their own minutes later - both of whom were walked to lead off the inning (Abrams and Wood).

Fast forward to the top of the ninth, when Kyle Finnegan was asked to come in and close out a 7-6 game. Because he is Kyle Finnegan and loves pitching with an extra degree of difficulty, he allowed a leadoff single to Sean Murphy, but then appeared to be bailed out by a popup bunt attempt and a rocket one-hopper to third baseman José Tena…except that Tena muffed the gift-wrapped double play ball and recorded zero outs. Olsen doubled immediately after that, but Alex Call and Luis García Jr. combined two good throws to cut down trail runner Austin Riley (who hit the would-be GIDP), keeping the score tied. The Nats went quickly in the bottom of the ninth (on nine pitches), with Hassell being denied his third hit on a sliding catch by Michael Harris III. Jackson Rutledge preserved the 7-7 tie thanks to a 6-3 double play, and then pinch hitter Amed Rosario singled home ghost runner Hassell after Call had bunted him over to third.

With Jacob Young not playing yet again last night because he can’t complete his swing with his banged-up shoulder, it’s only fair to wonder if another move is in the works. Unless they want to return Call to more of a part-time role, Nasim Nuñez’s demonstrated ability to handle center field in a pinch means that they probably wouldn’t call up Daylen Lile if Young needs an IL stint as well, but more likely Trey Lipscomb. Still, the red-hot Lile was held out of Rochester’s game last night, and it might be worth refreshing the transaction wire periodically today.

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