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Did Nationals' First-Inning Firestorm Leave Orioles Reeling at Camden Yards?

The Washington Nationals improved their record to 20-27 after a decisive 10-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, who now stand at 15-29. The game, held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, saw the Nationals take an early lead that proved insurmountable for the home team.


May 17, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call (17) lays down a sacrifice bunt during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

First Inning


The Nats came out swinging in the first inning, scoring six runs on six hits. This explosive start was spearheaded by CJ Abrams and Jacob Young, both of whom contributed significantly to the offensive surge. Abrams showcased his prowess with a solid batting average of .200 from previous games and continued to be a key player in this matchup. Meanwhile, Young's impressive .667 average from prior performances set the tone for his contribution during this inning.


Second Inning


In the second inning, Washington added another run to their tally thanks to Nathaniel Lowe's efforts. His consistent performance has been crucial for the Nats throughout recent games. With an on-base percentage of .4 and two RBIs previously recorded, Lowe maintained his form by driving in yet another run.


May 17, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (5) takes a swing during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Middle Innings


As the game progressed into its middle innings (third through sixth), both teams experienced a lull in scoring. The Nationals' pitching staff held firm against Baltimore's attempts to close the gap. Jake Irvin led this effort with an ERA of 2.842 and WHIP of 0.9474 from past outings; he managed to keep Baltimore scoreless during these innings.


Seventh Inning


Baltimore finally broke through in the seventh inning with two runs off three hits while capitalizing on one error committed by Washington’s defense—a rare slip given their overall fielding percentage of .974 for this game.


May 17, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) hits a single during the eighth inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Ninth Inning


The ninth inning saw fireworks as both teams ramped up their offense once more: Washington scored three additional runs while Baltimore responded with four runs off four hits but fell short despite their late rally attempt—leaving them unable to overcome Washington’s initial lead established early on.


Looking ahead after securing victory against Baltimore today—the Expos will face off against them again tomorrow afternoon (May 18th) at Oriole Park starting at 1:35 PM EDT; fans can catch all action live via MASN network broadcast! Share your thoughts about today's match-up or predictions about tomorrow’s rematch below!

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