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Cavalli Exits After Early Struggles, Nationals Drops Home Series
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- Cavalli Exits After Early Struggles, Nationals Drops Home Series
(© Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images)
Seven runs over the final two innings cemented the series loss at home for the Washington Nationals after the Pittsburgh Pirates left Nationals Park with a convincing 11-5 win.
Cade Cavalli struggled in the loss after lasting a season-low 2.1 innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs and a home run while tossing three strikeouts in 63 pitches. After originally signing with the Nationals back in 2017, Eddy Yean would also make his MLB debut in the loss as he exited his appearance with three strikeouts and no hits allowed across a pair of innings. Brad Lord and Justin Lawrence would account for the final seven runs allowed despite the Nationals combining to toss ten strikeouts as a team.
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Cavalli's struggles surfaced in the second inning after letting the first two batters reach base before consecutive RBI singles into right then left field broke the scoring open as Pittsburgh took a 3-0 lead. Pittsburgh added to it after Cavalli allowed a leadoff home run in the third inning, then after a strikeout, they added two more base runners on a hit then walk. That's when Butera turned to Yean to make his debut where his first of three strikeouts ended the frame.
Luis Garcia Jr. would prove to be one of the few bright spots for Washington after belting a two run, 370 foot home run in the bottom of third. It marked his sixth home run in eight games and tenth in his last 15 games to set a new career-high with 19 so far in 2026.
Washington would then make it a brand new game over the next two innings. Jorbit Vivas first cut into the deficit after an RBI groundout was enough to drive in Dylan Crews in the fourth inning, followed by CJ Abrams hitting a sac fly to bring in James Wood to tie the game at four the next inning.
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Yet despite showing signs of being able to carry the Nationals into the end, the bullpen unraveled in the eighth inning with Brad Lord on the mound to open. After giving up consecutive singles, Brad Lord would toss a walk following an eight-pitch at-bat to load the bases. Pittsburgh first drove in two off an RBI single into right field before a three run home run broke the game open, 9-4.
Dylan Crews would add a courtesy run with a 400 foot solo home run in the eighth inning, his sixth of the season, before the Pirates added two more off an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
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