Nationals Route Rockies 13-3 After Fifth Inning Explosion

The Washington Nationals snapped a four-game losing streak by rallying from a two-run deficit to defeat the visiting Colorado Rockies 13-3 on Monday, August 24, 2026, powered by Daylen Lile's five RBIs and a five-run fifth inning outburst.

Colorado took an early 2-0 lead after Willi Castro launched a solo home run in the fourth inning and Ezequiel Tovar hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth. Washington was held hitless through the first four innings by Rockies starter Ryan Feltner before its offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth.

Jacob Young opened the fifth with a soft single to break up the no-hitter. Following a single by Jorbit Vivas, Nasim Nunez laid down a sacrifice bunt that resulted in a throwing error by Castro, allowing two runs to score and tying the game. CJ Abrams, returning from a four-game absence due to a sprained ankle, followed with an RBI double to give Washington the lead.

Abrams stole third base and later scored on an Abimelec Ortiz groundout. Lile kept the rally going with a double, stole third, and came home on a throwing error by Rockies catcher Brett Sullivan to expand the lead to 5-2.

Washington continued its offensive push in the sixth inning when bases-loaded walks and a two-run single from Lile stretched the advantage to 8-2. Reliever Juan Mejia came in for Feltner, who yielded seven runs, five earned, over 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and four walks.

Nationals starter Cade Cavalli earned the victory, improving his record to 12-5. Cavalli surrendered two runs on five hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking one, marking his 14th consecutive start allowing three earned runs or fewer.

Colorado infielder Ezequiel Tovar exited the game in the sixth inning with a left wrist strain, which occurred during a diving attempt in the field in the fifth inning.

In the seventh inning, Rockies reliever Blake Adams, making his major league debut, allowed a two-run single to Vivas that brought the score to 10-2. Connor Norby pushed a run across for Colorado in the top of the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 10-3.

Lile completed a 3-for-5 night by hitting a three-run home run off Adams in the bottom of the eighth, bringing his season total to 16 home runs and 71 RBIs as Washington sealed the 13-3 victory.