The Washington Nationals dominated the Baltimore Orioles 7-0 at Nationals Park on Tuesday, improving to 10-13 while dropping the Orioles to 9-13. Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker delivered a stellar performance, tossing eight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four to earn the win and improve to 3-1 with a 1.39 ERA. Orioles starter Dean Kremer struggled, surrendering six runs over 5.1 innings, falling to 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA.
The Nationals struck early, scoring two runs in the first inning. James Wood led off with a double, and Nathaniel Lowe followed with a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to give Washington a 2-0 lead. In the second, José Tena tripled and scored on a wild pitch by Kremer, pushing the lead to 3-0. Washington added two more runs in the fifth, with Wood doubling and scoring on a Luis García Jr. single, followed by Keibert Ruiz’s RBI single, making it 5-0. Dylan Crews hit a solo homer in the sixth, his third, and Ruiz drove in García with a double in the seventh, finalizing the 7-0 score.
Washington’s offense was relentless, amassing 14 hits, including seven doubles and a triple. Tena led with three hits, including a triple and two doubles, while Wood and Ruiz each had three hits, with Wood scoring twice and Ruiz driving in two. Lowe and Crews each contributed a home run, and García added two hits and an RBI. The Nationals capitalized on Kremer’s struggles, tagging him for 11 hits and five earned runs.
The Orioles’ offense was stifled, managing only one hit—a single by Cedric Mullins in the third. Baltimore went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base. Mullins also walked twice, but the Orioles couldn’t generate momentum against Parker, who faced 27 batters and allowed just two walks. Relievers Colin Poche and Cole Henry closed out the ninth, with Henry striking out two to secure the shutout.
Defensively, the Nationals were flawless, turning a double play and committing no errors. The Orioles, however, struggled, with Mullins committing a throwing error in the fifth that allowed García to advance. Baltimore’s defense managed one double play but couldn’t contain Washington’s aggressive hitting.
The game, attended by 29,504 fans, lasted 2 hours and 24 minutes under partly cloudy skies with 77-degree weather at Nationals Park. Umpires John Bacon (home plate), CB Bucknor (first base), Dan Iassogna (second base), and Chris Segal (third base) officiated. Kremer faced a pitch timer violation, and the game saw 101 pitches from him, 67 for strikes.
Both teams sit fourth in their respective divisions—the Orioles in the AL East and the Nationals in the NL East. The loss highlights Baltimore’s early-season challenges, with their offense averaging just 0.200 in recent games, led by Adley Rutschman’s .200 batting average. Washington’s victory showcases their offensive depth, with Ruiz (.329) and Lowe (.293) leading a potent lineup.
The Nationals’ pitching and timely hitting overwhelmed the Orioles, who now look to rebound in their next matchup. The game underscores Washington’s ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes while maintaining defensive solidity, setting the stage for a competitive series.
