Home Struggles Continue for Nationals, Fall 9-4 vs Atlanta Braves

The struggles at home continue for the Washington Nationals. One day after picking up the second home win of the season, the Washington Nationals fell back into the loss column after the Atlanta Braves took game one, 9-4, on Monday night. Jake Irvin started well as he finished with three earned runs, three hits allowed and one home run along with four strikeouts before picking up his third loss of the season.

For the second straight game, both James Wood and CJ Abrams were held without a hit and struck out while Abrams also walked in his third at bat. Brady House and Drew Millas also both finished with two strikeouts each as the Nationals managed more strikeouts (9) than hits (3) in a quiet night for the offense. Final: Braves 9, Nats 4.

Blake Butera pulled Jake Irvin in the 6th with his pitch count at 68. Atlanta proceeded to score 5 runs off the bullpen (plus 2 more in the 9th). — Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 21, 2026 Yet it would be the Nationals who struck iron first after Jacob Young hit a two out single into right field that drove in CJ Abrams and Brady House while sending Daylen Lile to third.

After consecutive three up, three down innings, Irvin unraveled in the fourth after hitting Robert Acuna Jr - the first of two times by a Nationals pitcher in the loss - before giving up a single. Irvin caught a break with Acuna getting picked off because the Braves answered with a 419 foot home run to center to tie the game at two. Daylen Lile answered back with a 376 foot solo shot to open the bottom of the fourth inning before another meltdown inning materialized, this time in the sixth.