WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Washington Nationals 9-1 on May 6, 2025, at Nationals Park, powered by three home runs and a strong outing from Ben Lively. The Guardians (21-15), second in the AL Central, capitalized on Washington’s pitching struggles, while the Nationals (17-20), fourth in the NL East, managed only four hits. The game, attended by 21,948 fans, began at 7:10 p.m. and lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes.
Lively (2-2, 3.46 ERA) pitched 5.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out three, and walking two. Carlos Santana’s three-run homer in the sixth broke open a scoreless game, and Daniel Schneemann and Austin Hedges added solo homers in the eighth and ninth. Brad Lord (1-4, 4.45 ERA) took the loss for Washington, surrendering three runs on three hits over six innings. The Guardians’ eight hits, including two doubles and three homers, overwhelmed the Nationals’ bullpen, which allowed six runs in the final three innings.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth, when Steven Kwan singled, José Ramírez walked, and Santana homered to right, giving Cleveland a 3-0 lead. Washington responded with Riley Adams’ solo homer in the bottom of the sixth, narrowing the gap to 3-1. Cleveland erupted for three runs in the seventh, with Nolan Jones scoring on Brayan Rocchio’s fielder’s choice, followed by Kwan’s RBI double after a wild pitch scored Schneemann. In the eighth, Santana scored on a wild pitch, and Schneemann homered, making it 8-1. Hedges’ homer in the ninth sealed the 9-1 rout.
Santana led Cleveland with three RBIs and two runs, while Kwan went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Ramírez doubled twice, and Schneemann, a pinch-hitter, went 2-for-2 with a homer. Rocchio stole a base and drove in a run. For Washington, Adams’ homer was the lone bright spot, with CJ Abrams stealing a base but getting caught stealing. The Nationals left three runners on base and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position, struggling against Cleveland’s pitching.
Cleveland’s bullpen, including Tim Herrin, Jakob Junis, and Zak Kent, threw 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. Washington’s relievers—Lucas Sims, Jackson Rutledge, Eduardo Salazar, and Zach Brzykcy—faltered, with Sims and Salazar each allowing wild pitches that led to runs. The Guardians’ error-free defense, including an outfield assist by Angel Martínez, contrasted with Washington’s clean but ineffective fielding.
The Guardians, coming off a 5-2 homestand, showcased their offensive depth, with 11 players contributing to the box score. The Nationals, losers of three straight, have struggled at home, dropping to 9-11 at Nationals Park. Cleveland’s 2.98 team ERA, bolstered by Lively’s consistency, ranks among the AL’s best, while Washington’s pitching staff has allowed 4.8 runs per game, per recent analyses on X [].
Nationals Park, opened in 2008, hosted the game under partly cloudy skies with 70-degree weather. The Guardians aim to extend their series lead on May 7, while the Nationals look to rebound with stronger pitching. Fans can follow live updates on MLB.com or watch via Nationals.TV.
