WASHINGTON — In an exhilarating game at home, Nathaniel Lowe came through under pressure, hitting a decisive triple with the bases loaded during the eighth inning. His performance drove in four runs, propelling the Washington Nationals to a 9-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, splitting the doubleheader. The victory marked Washington’s second win at home in 11 games since June 7.
Josh Bell also contributed significantly with three RBIs for the Nationals. Meanwhile, Jahmai Jones drove in two runs for the MLB’s American League top team, the Tigers, who had previously been on a three-game winning streak. This streak included their earlier dominant 11-2 win against the Nationals, where Riley Greene hit two home runs and matched his career-best with six RBIs.
The game took a dramatic turn when Tommy Kahnle (0-1) entered in the eighth inning for Detroit. At that moment, the Nationals had just been retired 13 consecutive times, and Detroit was ahead 4-3. However, Kahnle faltered, surrendering two singles followed by a walk, setting the stage for Lowe’s triple down the right-field line, clearing the bases and changing the game’s momentum. Lowe eventually scored on Bell’s well-placed double to left-center, concluding Kahnle’s opportunity to contain the Nationals.
Washington kept the pressure on, adding two more insurance runs. Brenan Hanifee, relieving Kahnle, was greeted by Paul DeJong’s RBI single, which led to another score off Jacob Young’s grounder. Cole Henry earned his inaugural major league victory, pitching a scoreless eighth inning and contributing significantly to the team’s success.
Earlier in the game, Lowe and Bell each secured RBI singles in the first inning, facing off against Detroit’s Jack Flaherty. Bell furthered the lead with another run-scoring hit in the third inning. Flaherty pitched through five innings, allowing three runs and striking out nine, finishing strong with seven consecutive strikeouts.
For Detroit, Spencer Torkelson got the team on the board with a run-scoring double in the fourth, followed by Colt Keith’s pinch-hit RBI double in the sixth inning. Jones’ two-run double in the seventh briefly gave Detroit the lead, but it was short-lived. Washington starter MacKenzie Gore completed his outing after 5 1/3 innings, conceding two runs with only two strikeouts, which marked the season’s lowest for him.
The eighth inning was the turning point for the Nationals, as Lowe’s electrifying triple spearheaded a six-run rally, significantly impacting the outcome. Washington exhibited efficiency, going 7 for 11 with runners in scoring position, showcasing their opportunistic offense.
Looking ahead, Detroit is set to send LHP Dietrich Enns, who boasts an undefeated record with a spotless ERA of 0.00, for his second start in the series finale against Washington’s RHP Jake Irvin, who holds a 6-3 record and a 4.73 ERA.