CJ Abrams Powers Nationals Past Tigers With Two-Homer Night in 3-1 Victory

CJ Abrams supplied every run the Washington Nationals needed Tuesday night, blasting two home runs and driving in all three runs as Washington defeated the Detroit Tigers, 3-1, at Comerica Park.

Abrams continued a huge 2026 season by going 2-for-4 with his 32nd and 33rd home runs. His solo homer opened the scoring in the second inning before his two-run shot in the seventh broke a 1-1 tie and ultimately provided the winning margin. The victory improved Washington to 74-84 and gave the Nationals their seventh win in their last 10 games.

It was a dramatically different performance from Monday’s series opener, when Detroit overwhelmed Washington, 9-2. The Nationals received excellent work from their pitching staff Tuesday and Abrams provided the power necessary to even the three-game series at one victory apiece.

Abrams puts Washington in front

Washington did not generate much offense against Detroit right-hander Drew Anderson, but Abrams made the Nationals’ opportunities count.

The Nationals struck first in the top of the second when Abrams drove an Anderson fastball approximately 418 feet to right-center field. The solo home run gave Washington a 1-0 advantage and continued a remarkable power season for the Nationals infielder. It was his 32nd homer of the year.

The home run was also significant because it pushed Abrams to 100 RBIs for the season. Combined with his 30-plus home runs and 30-plus stolen bases, Abrams has developed into one of the most productive players in Washington’s lineup and one of the central pieces of the Nationals’ young core.

Washington had seven hits in the game, but Abrams accounted for virtually all of the damage. James Wood finished with a hit, Dylan Crews collected two hits and Andrés Chaparro and Keibert Ruiz also contributed hits. Crews additionally stole two bases, while Nasim Nuñez recorded his 47th stolen base.

Nationals pitching keeps Detroit off the board

Washington used Riley Cornelio as its opener, and the right-hander provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Cornelio allowed only one hit while walking three and striking out four.

Jackson Kent then took over and was forced to navigate significantly more traffic. Detroit finished with seven hits and six walks, putting runners on base throughout the evening, but Washington repeatedly escaped without allowing the Tigers to produce a big inning.

Kent worked four innings and allowed six hits and two walks while striking out three. Detroit’s only run came in the sixth when Ben Malgeri scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 1-1.

The Tigers’ inability to capitalize on their opportunities became one of the defining statistics of the game. Detroit stranded 11 runners while Washington left only three on base. The Nationals also turned two double plays, helping the pitching staff survive Detroit’s persistent baserunners.

Abrams immediately answers

Detroit’s sixth-inning run could have shifted the momentum completely. Abrams made sure it did not.

Crews opened the seventh with a hit before Abrams stepped to the plate against Anderson. For the second time in the game, Abrams went deep, launching a two-run homer approximately 404 feet into the right-field seats. The blast gave Washington a 3-1 lead and ended Anderson’s night.

It was Abrams’ 33rd home run and increased his season RBI total to 102. MLB noted that it was his third multi-homer game of the season.

That swing proved to be the difference.

Washington did not score again, but the Nationals did not need anything else from their offense.

Bullpen slams the door

After Kent completed his work, Washington turned the game over to its late-inning relief corps.

Cade Sinclair delivered 1 1/3 perfect innings and struck out one, earning his second hold. Erik Tolman then took over in the ninth and delivered an overpowering finish.

Tolman walked one batter but struck out three while allowing no hits or runs, securing his fourth save. Washington’s pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and held Detroit to one run despite allowing 13 total baserunners via hits and walks.

Kent earned the victory and improved to 2-4.

Anderson took the loss for Detroit after allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Detroit’s bullpen kept Washington scoreless the rest of the way, with Tyler Kinley, Tyler Holton and Beau Brieske combining to cover the final three innings.

Detroit wastes its opportunities

Detroit actually matched Washington with seven hits, but the Tigers could not produce the decisive hit with runners on base.

Kevin McGonigle had two hits, including a double, while Max Clark also finished with two hits. Malgeri doubled and eventually scored Detroit’s only run. Gleyber Torres and Hao-Yu Lee added hits.

But the Tigers went scoreless in eight of nine innings.

Detroit’s five recent losses have each featured exactly one run of offense, according to the Associated Press recap. The Tigers fell to 2-5 over their last seven games with Tuesday’s defeat.

That contrasted sharply with Monday night, when Detroit erupted for nine runs and three home runs in the series opener. Ben Malgeri, Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson all homered in that victory.

Washington’s pitching staff prevented anything resembling a repeat Tuesday.

Abrams continues breakout season

The biggest story coming out of Tuesday’s victory was Abrams.

His two homers accounted for eight total bases and all three Washington RBIs. The performance also pushed him to 33 home runs and 102 RBIs, adding another impressive night to what has become a major offensive season.

Nationals manager Blake Butera praised the combination of power, speed, extra-base production and run production Abrams has provided this season, describing him after the game as a player developing into a superstar.

Tuesday offered a good example of why.

Washington did not dominate offensively. The Nationals had only seven hits and did not draw a walk. They instead received two game-changing swings from their second baseman and made them stand up with quality pitching and defense.

The first homer established the lead.

The second reclaimed it.

And Washington’s bullpen took care of everything else.

Nationals even the series

The win pulled Washington even with Detroit at 74-84 with four games remaining in the regular season. More importantly for a young Nationals team attempting to finish the year strongly, Washington has now won seven of its last 10 games.

Tuesday’s game lasted two hours and 39 minutes in front of 25,608 fans at Comerica Park. Washington finished with three runs on seven hits and committed no errors, while Detroit recorded one run on seven hits without an error.

The Nationals and Tigers will finish the three-game series Wednesday in Detroit.

MSB Take

CJ Abrams did not simply have a good night Tuesday. He took control of a close baseball game.

Washington’s pitching deserves considerable credit for holding Detroit to one run despite the Tigers putting runners on base throughout the night. Cornelio established the tone, Kent battled through four difficult innings and the combination of Sinclair and Tolman was outstanding at the back end of the bullpen.

But this game belonged to Abrams.

Two swings produced all three Washington runs, and the second came immediately after Detroit finally tied the game. That is exactly the type of response Washington wants to see from one of the players expected to be at the center of the franchise moving forward.

With 33 home runs, 102 RBIs and more than 30 stolen bases, Abrams’ combination of power and speed has become increasingly difficult to ignore. Tuesday’s performance provided another showcase of what he can do when Washington needs a difference-maker.

The Nationals are not headed to the postseason, but winning seven of 10 late in September matters for a young club trying to establish momentum. Washington responded to Monday’s 9-2 defeat with a much cleaner performance Tuesday, received dominant late-inning relief and watched one of its cornerstone players take over the game.

That made the 3-1 victory one of the more encouraging performances of Washington’s final stretch of the 2026 season.