MacKenzie Gore faced a rough start to the second half of his season, struggling through a 48-pitch first inning that left the Nationals in a deficit. However, the team managed to pull off a 5-4 win against the Reds, thanks to Jacob Young’s clutch single in the eighth. Gore, who only lasted two innings, voiced frustration over his inability to extend outings, putting additional pressure on the bullpen.
Washington’s bullpen, however, stepped up significantly. Jordan Weems, Robert Garcia, Dylan Floro, and Derek Law provided crucial innings, holding the Reds at bay and allowing the Nationals to mount a comeback. Harold Ramírez and CJ Abrams delivered timely hits, and Kyle Finnegan secured the save, showcasing the team’s resilience despite a challenging start.
In other team news, Cade Cavalli’s rehab hit a snag with “dead arm” and a subsequent flu, delaying his progress. Plans are in place to send Cavalli back to Florida to restart his recovery, aiming to build him back up to game readiness.
