Yohandy Morales Powers Nationals Past Tigers 4-2 to Win Series in Detroit
Yohandy Morales delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, and the Washington Nationals bullpen pieced together nine innings as Washington defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2 Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Morales launched a two-run home run during a three-run sixth inning that broke open a scoreless game. CJ Abrams drove in Washington’s first run, while James Wood added an insurance run in the seventh as the Nationals won the final two games of the three-game series after dropping Monday’s opener 9-2. Washington improved to 75-84 with the victory.
The Nationals managed only six hits, compared with eight for Detroit, but Washington made its opportunities count. The Tigers stranded 11 runners and failed to capitalize on several chances against a Nationals pitching staff that used six pitchers.
Pitching Takes Control Early
Neither offense could generate a run through the first five innings.
Washington did not use a traditional starter, instead beginning the afternoon with Richard Lovelady. Lovelady worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk before Washington turned the game over to Brad Lord.
Lord provided exactly what Washington needed in the bulk role. The right-hander worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings, surrendered only one hit and struck out three while walking two. Lovelady and Lord combined to keep Detroit scoreless through the first portion of the game and gave Washington’s offense time to solve Tigers starter Framber Valdez.
Valdez was equally effective early.
The Detroit left-hander kept Washington off the scoreboard through five innings and eventually finished with six strikeouts. The Nationals finally broke through against him in the sixth, and once they did, the game changed quickly.
Nationals Break Through in Sixth
Andrés Chaparro helped start Washington’s decisive rally and eventually came around to score the game’s first run when Abrams singled into right field. Abrams attempted to stretch the hit into extra bases and was thrown out at second, but Washington had finally broken the scoreless tie.
Brady House advanced to second on the play, putting another runner in scoring position.
Morales then delivered the swing that ultimately decided the game.
The 24-year-old drove a pitch to right-center field for a towering 422-foot two-run home run, bringing House home and suddenly giving Washington a 3-0 advantage. It was Morales’ fourth home run of the season and his second homer in three games.
For a game that had remained scoreless through five innings, Washington had completely changed things within a matter of minutes.
Morales has continued to receive opportunities during the closing stretch of the season, and Wednesday’s performance demonstrated the power potential that made him one of the more intriguing young hitters in Washington’s system. His home run proved to be the defining moment in the Nationals’ series-clinching victory.
Tigers Answer With Power
Detroit responded immediately.
Ben Malgeri led off the bottom of the sixth and connected for a 404-foot solo home run, cutting Washington’s advantage to 3-1. The homer came against William Dion, who had entered after Lord’s strong outing.
Dion prevented the Tigers from turning the homer into a larger rally. He completed two innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out four and walking one. Despite surrendering the homer, Dion earned the victory and improved to 2-2.
Washington’s pitching staff repeatedly found itself needing to escape trouble throughout the afternoon.
Detroit ultimately collected eight hits and drew several walks, but the Tigers struggled to produce the hit necessary to turn baserunners into runs. Their 11 runners left on base became one of the defining statistics of the game.
Wood Adds an Insurance Run
Washington restored its three-run advantage in the seventh.
Nasim Nuñez reached and eventually scored when Wood grounded out to first base. Wood did not record a hit in four at-bats, but the productive out gave Washington another important insurance run and made the score 4-1.
Wood finished 0-for-4 with the RBI and two strikeouts. Even on an afternoon when one of Washington’s biggest offensive threats was held without a hit, the Nationals found enough production elsewhere in the lineup to win.
House contributed two hits and scored on Morales’ home run, while Abrams reached base three times and drove in a run. Morales supplied the biggest blow with his two-run homer.
That production was enough because Washington’s pitching continued limiting Detroit’s opportunities.
Nationals Bullpen Walks a Tightrope
Washington needed six pitchers to complete the afternoon.
After Lovelady and Lord combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings, Dion covered the next two and recorded four strikeouts. Jack Sinclair recorded an out without allowing a run before Everett Tolman worked two-thirds of an inning.
Tolman did not surrender a hit but walked two batters, forcing Washington to turn to Yeuris Cruz.
Cruz was tasked with recording the final four outs.
The right-hander eventually earned his first save despite Detroit creating one final threat in the ninth inning. Cruz allowed three hits and one run over 1 1/3 innings while striking out two without issuing a walk.
Detroit refused to go quietly.
Tigers Threaten in Ninth
Detroit entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 4-1 and put together one final push.
Jace Jung scored when Malgeri singled into right field, cutting Washington’s advantage to 4-2. Kevin McGonigle advanced to third on the play, putting the Tigers in position to make the final inning considerably more interesting.
Cruz prevented Detroit from completing the comeback.
Washington escaped the inning with the two-run advantage intact, securing Cruz’s first save and finishing off a 4-2 victory.
Detroit’s inability to capitalize with runners aboard proved costly throughout the afternoon. The Tigers outhit Washington 8-6 but stranded 11 runners, while Washington left only four.
Morales Continues Strong Finish
Morales’ performance was particularly encouraging for a Nationals organization continuing to evaluate its young talent.
His two-run shot was his fourth homer of the season and his second in three games. More importantly, it came in a tie game and immediately transformed Washington’s one-run advantage into a 3-0 cushion.
Morales’ development will be worth following as Washington begins constructing its plans for 2027. The Nationals already have several young position players occupying important roles, and strong performances during the final weeks provide additional information as the front office evaluates its roster.
House also continued contributing Wednesday with two hits and a run scored.
The combination of Morales and House producing in the middle of the order was an encouraging development in a game where Wood was held hitless.
Nationals Take the Series
Washington’s victory completed an impressive response after a difficult beginning to the series.
Detroit dominated Monday’s opener 9-2, hitting three home runs and collecting 12 hits. The Nationals managed only five hits in that game and appeared headed toward a difficult series.
Washington responded Tuesday behind Abrams, who homered twice and drove in three runs in a 3-1 victory. The Nationals then followed that performance by winning Wednesday’s finale 4-2.
That gave Washington consecutive victories and a 2-1 series win in Detroit.
The Nationals improved to 75-84 and will return home for their final series of the regular season against the New York Mets beginning Friday at Nationals Park.
For a team outside the postseason picture, finishing the season competitively remains important.
Washington accomplished that in Detroit.
After getting blown out in the opener, the Nationals allowed only three total runs over the final two games and left Comerica Park with a series victory.
MSB Take
The Nationals continue to provide reasons for optimism during the final days of the 2026 season, and Wednesday’s victory was another example of why these games still matter for Washington.
Morales’ home run was the obvious highlight. A 422-foot homer in a scoreless game is exactly the kind of swing Washington wants to see from one of its young hitters, particularly with the organization evaluating which players should receive larger roles in 2027. Morales has now homered twice in three games, giving him an opportunity to finish the season with some momentum.
The pitching performance was equally encouraging. Washington used six pitchers and never received more than 3 1/3 innings from anyone, yet the staff held Detroit to two runs. Lord’s 3 1/3 scoreless innings were particularly important because they prevented Washington from burning through the bullpen too early.
There were still areas that could have gone differently. Detroit stranded 11 runners, and Washington’s bullpen made the ninth inning considerably more uncomfortable than necessary. Against stronger offensive clubs, allowing that many baserunners can quickly turn into a loss.
But Washington made the plays when necessary.
The Nationals lost the opening game of this series 9-2 and could easily have allowed the final week of a losing season to drift away. Instead, they responded by winning two straight and taking the series in Detroit.
That matters for a young club.
Now Washington returns to Nationals Park for one final series. The Mets will provide the opposition, and the Nationals will have three more opportunities to evaluate their young core and finish 2026 on a positive note.
