BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 16 - The Washington Nationals won a long, hard-fought battle to open this weekend series in Baltimore. The 4-3 victory came after the bullpen’s incredible performance as well as timely offense.

MacKenzie Gore started for the Nationals, and he gave the team a mixed performance. Over just 3.2 innings, he threw 102 pitches, striking out nine batters but allowing 10 hits and two walks, resulting in two earned runs. Despite the high pitch count and base traffic, Gore managed to limit the damage, though he was helped by a spectacular leaping catch from center fielder Jacob Young that robbed Ryan Mountcastle of a home run in the fourth inning. The bullpen then took over, with Cole Henry, Andrew Chafin, Jackson Rutledge, Jose A. Ferrer, Jorge López, and Kyle Finnegan combining for 4.1 innings of one-run ball. López earned his sixth win of the season, and Finnegan closed the game with a scoreless ninth, earning his 14th save.

Offensively, the Nationals capitalized on key moments and hit the ball with intent. Nathaniel Lowe initiated the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. James Wood contributed significantly, tying the game with an RBI single in the sixth and later hitting a solo homer in the eighth to level the score at 3-3. In the ninth, José Tena drew a walk, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored the go-ahead run on an infield single by Nasim Nuñez, who reached third on a throwing error.

This victory improved the Nationals' record to 19-27, while the Orioles fell to 15-28. The win also gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead in the season series against Baltimore. Despite being outhit 14-5, the Nationals' timely hitting and effective bullpen work proved decisive. Baltimore's struggles with runners in scoring position continued, as they went 4-for-15 and left 15 runners on base.

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Looking ahead, the Nationals will send right-hander Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.00 ERA) to the mound in the second game of the series, facing Orioles' veteran Kyle Gibson (0-2, 13.11 ERA). The Nationals have won two of their last three, and will look to salvage this road trip before heading back home.