Abrams Shines as Nationals Top Twins 7-2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — CJ Abrams sparked the Washington Nationals with a leadoff home run, three stolen bases, and three runs scored in a 7-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Jake Irvin (8-5), a native of the Twin Cities making his first start at Target Field, pitched seven strong innings for Washington, allowing two runs on five hits. Josh Bell added three hits and an RBI.

Matt Wallner homered, and Harrison Bader recorded two hits for the Twins, who have now dropped six of nine games since the All-Star break.

Daylen Lile tripled in the fourth and scored on Paul DeJong’s sacrifice fly, giving the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Washington pulled away in the fifth with a four-run inning, highlighted by Alex Call’s two-run single. Call’s grounder deflected off the mound, skipping past second baseman Brooks Lee and allowing two runs to score.

Abrams wasted no time, launching the first pitch of the game from Cole Sands for his 14th homer of the season and fifth leadoff blast of the year. After Minnesota tied it in the second on Wallner’s solo shot, Abrams got on base again in the third, stole second and third, and scored on a sac fly by Luis García Jr.

The Twins evened it once more in the third on Trevor Larnach’s sacrifice fly, but couldn’t keep pace with the Nationals’ offense.

Up Next:
The Twins open a series at home Monday against the Red Sox with Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14 ERA) on the mound. The Nationals head to Houston, where Brad Lord (2-5, 3.39 ERA) will start Monday’s opener.