Zack Littell, Washington Nationals Struggle At Home in 10-5 Loss
The San Francisco Giants pounded Zack Littell for six runs in the second inning, handing the Washington Nationals a 10-5 loss at home on Friday night
An early inning meltdown set the stage for the sixth loss in seven home games for the Washington Nationals after dropping game one against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Zack Littell struggled in his fourth start of the season after giving up eight earned runs and 11 hits in four innings. The most recent free agent signing has now given up at least three runs in three of his four starts this season, marking a puzzling start for the Nationals rotation.
The meltdown began in the second inning after Littell allowed consecutive singles to open the inning before giving up a 416 foot home run, pushing the Giants ahead, 3-0. San Francisco added to it after the next three batters got on base, eventually setting up a pair of two out hits to drive in three runs, pushing the Nationals into a 6-0 deficit early on. Well Daylen Lile homered.
#Natitude pic. twitter. com/IEYiCMyqXL ā SleeperNationals (@SleeperNats) April 18, 2026 A grounder into a fielder's choice from Brady House would get the Nationals on the board in the bottom of the third, but the Giants answered right back with two more runs in the next frame including the second and final home run allowed by Littell, this time a 389 foot solo shot over the right field wall.
Daylen Lile's two run home run in the fourth inning marked his first of the season, but the Giants maintained a healthy lead throughout with Paxton Schultz giving up a solo home run in the seventh inning with the Nationals trailing, 9-4. The Nationals would cut the deficit to four again after James Wood opened the seventh inning with a 441 foot home run opposite field home run, marking the longest in Major League Baseball since Nolan Jones of the Colorado Rockies hit a 452 foot home run on Sept. 13, 2023.