Washington D.C. - This afternoon, the Washington Nationals lost the series finale to the Minnesota Twins, 3-2.

The Nationals have a record of 21-27 and are in fourth place in the NL East as they will welcome the Seattle Mariners to Washington, D.C., for a three-game series, which will start on Friday night.

The Nationals are now 8-12 at home and 10-13 against A.L. teams this season.

RHP Jake Irvin got the start for the Nationals and pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out six, and facing 25 batters. Irvin threw a total of 84 pitches, 59 of them being strikes. Irvin did give up two homeruns, one to Max Kepler in the top of the second and Carlos Correa in the top of the sixth. Irvin got the lost today and now has a record of 2-5 with an ERA of 3.79.

Irvin has now allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last eight outings and is 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA, 35 strikeouts, and six walks over the stretch.

The Nationals did put up a run, thanks to Ildemaro Vargas’ tenth double of the year when he doubled on a line drive to center field in the bottom of the seventh, moving Luis García Jr. to 3rd, who would end up scoring thanks to an RBI Keibert Ruiz to bring the Nationals within one run.

Perspectives

May Trading Block Report

Owen Ranger • May 22, 2024

Last month, we looked at all possible players that the Nationals might explore trading by the July 30 deadline, even those with the slimmest odds of being dealt. A lot can change in a month, so here is an updated list with fourteen names and possible trading partner fits. We will take another look in June and again about a week or two before the deadline. Let’s lead off with the man who has been the Nats’ best-starting pitcher this season.

Read full story →

Hunter Harvey gave up one run in his 1.1 innings of work due to an RBI single from Ryan Jeffers in the top of the ninth to give the Twins a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

The Nationals were able to pull within one run thanks to Joey Meneses's second home run of the season in the bottom of the ninth; however, they couldn’t pull off the comeback as the Nationals stranded the tieing run at second.  Joey Meneses has gone 6-for-17 with a batting average of .353 over his last four games and has reached base in 23 of his last 28 games.

The Nationals went 0-8 with runners in scoring position and left six base runners on base in this afternoon’s loss to the Twins.

Next, the Washington Nationals will have tomorrow off and welcome the Seattle Mariners to D.C. for a three-game series that kicks off on Friday night.

The Nats Report is an independent reader-supported project with free and paid subscriptions, not affiliated with the Washington Nationals.

Those who opt for the paid edition are providing vital assistance to bolster our independent coverage of the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball.