​The Washington Nationals followed up their back-and-forth victory from Monday with a defeat on Tuesday, as the Houston Astros pulled away to finish 6-3 and even the series. Andrew Alvarez was charged with a season-worst five earned runs on four hits while striking out three over 5.2 innings on 97 pitches. Justin Lawrence got one batter to strike out in his lone appearance, Riley Cornelio logged three strikeouts across 1.1 innings, and Carson Palmquist wrapped up the final frame with just one walk allowed. Matt Krook also made his Nationals debut, allowing one hit and recording a single strikeout in 0.2 innings of work.
The loss featured multiple bright spots for Washington at the plate, including multi-hit efforts from James Wood, Luis Garcia Jr., Curtis Mead, and Nasim Nunez. The game opened promisingly for the Nationals when James Wood, who belted a grand slam on Monday night, launched a solo shot to right-center field measuring 419 feet to give Washington a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Houston answered in the second with a sacrifice fly, tying the game. The Nationals reclaimed the advantage in the bottom of the third when CJ Abrams hit a sacrifice fly, but the Astros once again answered back in the fourth to seize the lead for good.
Alvarez allowed base runners to reach to start the fourth, with a fielder’s choice moving them to second and third. An RBI single to left and a sacrifice fly to center followed, putting Houston ahead 4-2. The Astros extended their lead with another RBI single in the sixth before Cornelio allowed a 402-foot home run to Jose Altuve on an 85 mph slider. Washington would have one final chance in the ninth.
Jose Tena delivered his second home run of the night as a pinch hitter to make it 6-3, and James Wood followed with a single to right. After Houston invoked a pitching change, Curtis Mead reached base on an error, and CJ Abrams walked to load the bases. Then came Dylan Crews, who watched his opportunity to deliver a hero moment slip away as he struck out on consecutive sinkers, sealing the 6-3 finish for Houston.
With the loss, Washington dropped to 47-46 on the season and will wrap up the series on Wednesday in a rubber match, hoping to secure their first win in July. Foster Griffin is slated to start, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET. The Nationals are eager to turn the page and grab a crucial win to keep pace in the crowded division race.
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