(Washington, D.C.) The Nationals were unable to earn a series split against the Braves after falling in the final game of their four-game series on Thursday.

The Nationals’ offense got off to a hot start when right fielder James Wood hit a solo home run in the second inning, but fell behind in the fourth when the Braves strung together two doubles, a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to take a 2-1 lead. The Nationals evened the score in the bottom half of the inning when shortstop CJ Abrams hit a solo home run.

However, the Nationals found themselves in a 6-2 hole after the latest collapse from the team’s bullpen when the Braves put up a four-spot in the seventh inning. After the Braves added an insurance run in the ninth, the Nationals went down quietly, ending in a 7-2 loss.

After an abysmal start to the 2026 season, Wood has been on fire, with six home runs in the last two weeks — and three in the last three games. Wood’s 1.010 on base plus slugging percentage currently ranks third in all of MLB — and first in the National League.

Thursday’s home run was just the third of Wood’s ten home runs this season to come to the pull side. Despite this unorthodox tendency, Wood is on pace to hit 62 home runs this season, which would be the most of any National League hitter since Barry Bonds in 2001.

Wood has also demonstrated incredible patience over the series games, becoming just the sixth hitter in Nationals history to walk six or more times over any two-game span on Wednesday night.

Cavalli showed flashes of dominance on the mound, striking out 10 Braves hitters — a career high for the 27-year-old.

Additionally, Cavalli became the fourth pitcher in Nationals history to record double-digit strikeouts in five innings or less, joining Stephen Strasburg, Mackenzie Gore and Josiah Gray.

However, Cavalli did run into a bit of trouble at times, allowing seven hits and two runs — though he avoided his usual command issues, throwing 73% strikes and walking none.

“I thought this outing was his best [of the season] so far, Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “With the stuff he has, if he’s in the zone as consistently as he was today, the results are going to be really good.”

After yet another meltdown from the Nationals’ relievers, the team announced it would call up 2022 7th-round pick Riley Cornielo.

The 25-year-old out of TCU has excelled at AAA Rochester this season, sporting a 2.45 earned run average while allowing just 1.036 walks and hits per innings pitched. Cornielo has been used as a starter in the minors, but the expectation is that he will be used out of the bullpen to start in MLB. Julian Fernandez was optioned to AAA as the corresponding move.

Outside of two highlight moments from Abrams and Wood, the Nationals’ offense was dominated by JR Ritchie and the rest of the Braves’ pitching staff. Designated hitter Jose Tena, center fielder Jacob Young, second baseman Nasim Nunez and catcher Keibert Ruiz went a combined 0 for 9, and the team struck out 10 times overall.

Butera tried to put a charge into the offense, inserting two pinch hitters into the game, but neither attempt was successful. With the current state of the Nationals’ pitching, offensive efforts like Thursday’s won’t be enough to win games.

“Ritchie did a really good job of mixing speeds,” Butera said. “It was really hard for out hitters to stay on time … I credit him.

The Nationals will now head to Chicago for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, kicking off a six-game road trip. The Nationals will face off with their 2014 first-round pick, starting pitcher Erick Fedde, in game one of the series.