SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 30 - The Washington Nationals took the rubber match in Seattle over the Mariners after a seven-run explosion in the 10th inning propelled them to a 9-3 victory. MacKenzie Gore gave the team an incredible outing, and while the bullpen blew it, the offense picked them up en route to the win.

Gore took the bump looking like a man on a mission. He threw 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out eight batters to lower his ERA to 3.16, while simultaneously becoming the first pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts on the season. He got out of a serious jam to end his night with three strikeouts in the sixth, including sitting Randy Arozarena down with five straight fastballs for the third out, and getting incredibly hyped up in the process.

Jorge Lopez entered for the bottom of the seventh, and he allowed two runs to score and tie the game, all while recording just two outs. He was then replaced by Cole Henry, who got into trouble in the eighth but was bailed out by Jose A. Ferrer, who was teaching himself the saxophone in the bullpen earlier in the game. He threw 1.2 scoreless, getting the game to extra innings. Kyle Finnegan pitched the 10th, and while he allowed the automatic runner to score, he shut the game down for the win.

Offensively, the Nats were silent through the first five innings. Jose Tena and CJ Abrams walked, leading to a James Wood double to give the team a 2-0 lead. That was all she wrote until the 10th, when Daylen Lile hit a sac-fly to score the inherited runner. Then, Abrams doubled and Wood was walked, leading to a Nathaniel Lowe single to score Abrams. Luis Garcia Jr. then doubled to score two before a Josh Bell three-run homer made the game 9-2. The seven runs were the most the Nats had ever scored in an extra inning in franchise history.

Up next…

The Nationals had a late, but surely good-vibes flight to Arizona after the game. They will face the D-Backs for three games starting Friday night, where Jake Irvin will take the bump looking to capitalize on the momentum built in the 10th inning last night.