Nationals pummel Orioles by 10 runs to reach .500

Field Level Media|published: Sat 16th May, 19:33 2026

May 16, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) reacts after hitting a three run home run as Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) looks on during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Keibert Ruiz had three hits, including a homer, and drove in five runs, and Cade Cavalli pitched into the seventh inning as the Nationals beat the Baltimore Orioles 13-3 on Saturday in Washington.

Jacob Young and Brady House each had two hits with a homer, and CJ Abrams had three hits for Washington, which reached the .500 mark after losing their previous 15 games when they had a chance to do so going back to 2024.

Cavalli (2-2) allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out eight without a walk in 6 1/3 innings.

Samuel Basallo and Tyler O'Neill homered for Baltimore, which has scored three runs or less in eight of its past nine games.

Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (3-3) gave up four runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Abrams led off the second with a double. Nasim Nunez walked with one out and Ruiz followed with a homer to right to make it 3-0.

James Wood doubled leading off the third inning and scored on a two-out double by Abrams.

The Orioles rallied against Cavalli in the seventh. Basallo led off with a homer to right and O'Neill followed with a line-drive to left to pull the Orioles within 4-2.

After Leody Taveras singled, Coby Mayo hit a high fly ball down the left field line near the foul pole. The ball was called foul and that was upheld after a crew chief review. Mayo struck out and PJ Poulin replaced Cavalli. Jeremiah Jackson flied out, Gunnar

Henderson walked and Taylor Ward singled to left, scoring Taveras to make it 4-3.

Wood walked leading off the bottom of the eighth and House doubled down the left-field line to score him. Abrams singled and House moved to third. Daylen Lile grounded to short with the infield in, but House beat the play at home. Nunez walked and

Ruiz singled to left, scoring two runners to increase the lead to 8-3.

Young won an ABS challenge on what would have been strike three and then smacked a three-run homer to left to make it 11-3. House added a two-run shot in the eighth.

--Field Level Media

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