Mariners vs Nationals Recap: Big Washington win on Sunday

The Mariners came to Washington hoping to bounce back after losing 3–8 the night before. They needed a strong start. But right away, the Nationals showed why they belonged in this game. In the first inning, Josh Naylor doubled to center and Cole Young scored on an error. Seattle led 1–0. That lasted one pitch. James Wood stepped up and launched a 413-foot home run to right-center. The ball exploded off his bat and landed deep in the bleachers. Tied 1–1. Then the fourth inning hit the Mariners like a tidal wave. Keibert Ruiz singled to left. Daylen Lile doubled to right. Nasim Nunez singled to center. Runs poured across the plate. The Nationals scored four runs in one inning. Seattle's starter, Emerson Hancock, was getting shelled. Washington led 1–5 and the game was already slipping away.

By the time we reached the seventh inning, the Nationals had pulled ahead 1–6. Then Keibert Ruiz stepped to the plate against Michael Rucker. The pitch came in at 96 miles per hour. Ruiz swung and connected hard. The ball rocketed 406 feet to right-center and cleared the wall. Nationals 1–7. Momentum was completely on Washington's side now. The Mariners tried to mount a comeback but their bats stayed quiet. In the eighth inning, Jacob Young came up facing Andres Munoz. Young drove a double to left field. Vivas scored. Then James Wood followed with his own double to center. Young scored to make it 1–9. Wood kept swinging. Dylan Crews grounded out to shortstop but Wood scored on the play. That made it 1–10. The Nationals offense was relentless. They kept finding the gaps. They kept moving runners. Nothing could stop Washington's hot bats.

The final score told the whole story: Nationals 10, Mariners 1. Seattle never found their rhythm. Julio Rodriguez, who came in hitting about 248 for the season, went hitless. Luke Raley struck out. Miles Mastrobuoni struck out. The entire lineup looked overmatched. Miles Mikolas was brilliant for Washington. He pitched seven innings and gave up just three hits. He struck out three. No walks. That kind of pitching, paired with nine runs of offense, is impossible to beat. The Nationals improved to 37–35 on the season. They won their second straight game. Seattle fell to 37–36 and lost their second in a row. The Mariners were heading home after this road trip to face Baltimore. Washington had momentum now. They were playing good baseball. And the Mariners? They needed to regroup fast. This game showed just how quickly things can turn around in baseball.