WASHINGTON, D.C. - MAY 11 - The Washington Nationals were swept on Sunday by the St. Louis Cardinals in a 6-1 loss. MacKenzie Gore had a rough start to his outing but ultimately cleaned it up, while the offense was held down by Miles Mikolas, with a few exceptions.

Gore's outing began on a rough note, surrendering a leadoff home run to Lars Nootbaar and a solo shot to Willson Contreras in the second inning. Despite these early setbacks, Gore settled in, getting through 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts and three walks, allowing four earned runs on five hits. His performance was a good show of resilience, as he managed to quiet the Cardinals down after the initial damage. The bullpen, however, struggled to contain their offense. Andrew Chafin allowed an RBI single in the seventh (it was Gore’s runner), and Brad Lord gave up a two-run homer to Nolan Arenado in the eighth, widening the deficit. Zach Brzykcy managed a scoreless ninth, but by then, the game was out of reach.

Offensively, the Nationals found it challenging to generate momentum against Mikolas, who pitched 5.1 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Nathaniel Lowe provided the sole highlight with a solo home run in the fourth inning, his seventh of the season. CJ Abrams contributed with a single, but the lineup failed to capitalize on opportunities again. The Cardinals' bullpen effectively shut down any potential rallies, sealing the game.

This loss marks the Nationals' fifth consecutive defeat, dropping their record to 17-24 and making them nine games behind the division-leading Mets in the NL East. The team's struggles are evident, both in pitching and offensive consistency. Gore's performance, while showing flashes of dominance, showed the need for more support from both the bullpen and the batting order. The sweep by the Cardinals, who have now won eight straight, really showed the gap the Nationals need to bridge to become competitive.

Up next…

Looking ahead, the Nationals will go on a seven-game road trip, starting with a four-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Right-hander Jake Irvin (2-1, 3.94 ERA) is going to start the opener, aiming to end the team's losing streak. This road trip will be a major opportunity for the Nationals to regroup as a team and address the inconsistencies that have killed them.