Instant Analysis: Nats 15, Twins 2

Miles Mikolas delivered his best start of the season, and Drew Millas, Brady House, CJ Abrams and José Tena all homered during a lopsided win

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

Who did the Nationals turn to for a much-needed home win? Miles Mikolas and Drew Millas, of course. And then a bunch of other hitters to turn a tight ballgame into a rout.

Tonight’s starting battery may not be the first two names most fans would think of when looking for a spark. But both guys came through in a big way tonight to beat the Twins, with Mikolas tossing a season-high 5 1/3 innings and Millas launching his first home run of the season to lead a well-balanced offensive attack that kept getting better as the night progressed.

Mikolas retired 16 of the 19 batters he faced, allowing only three hits (one of them a solo homer by Matt Wallner) in his best start of the year. Mitchell Parker followed with 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief, then the newly added Zak Kent pitched the ninth in his first appearance for the organization.

Shut down for three innings by Bailey Ober, the Nationals broke through in the fourth on CJ Abrams’ RBI double. Millas then delivered the big blow: a two-run homer in the fifth, his first big-league blast since June 21, 2024 at Coors Field. But they were far from done. With four extra-base hits in the sixth (doubles by Abrams, Brady House and José Tena, plus a triple by Nasim Nuñez) and then a two-run homer to the batter’s eye in center in the seventh by House, the Nats blew this game open. And they still weren’t done. They scored seven more runs in the eighth thanks to Abrams’ grand slam and Tena’s homer. They wound up scoring seven more runs tonight as they did in the first four games of this homestand combined.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: When he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth, Millas was the owner of a .399 OPS. When he stepped on the plate a few moments later after rounding the bases following his two-run homer, he was the owner of a .480 OPS. Boy, did he need that. As much attention as has been given to Keibert Ruiz’s struggles, Millas’ offensive production has been even worse. He had been 1 for his last 14. He hadn’t delivered an extra-base hit since April 14. He hadn’t recorded an RBI since April 10. One swing won’t completely erase all that, but Millas certainly needed something positive to cling to after a dismal stretch.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: It hasn’t always felt like it, but Mikolas has been making steady progress in recent weeks and has been feeling good about that progress. It finally all came together tonight during what was by far his best outing of the season. Blake Butera didn’t bother using an opener, trusting Mikolas to face the top of the Twins lineup from the get-go. He responded by retiring the first six batters he faced on 24 pitches, with three strikeouts and three groundouts to second. The first batter to reach against him did so via a cheap, check-swing double. He did groove an 0-2 sinker to Wallner on the solo homer in the fifth. But he responded by finishing that inning and returning to face one more batter in the sixth. That was actually the third time he got to face Byron Buxton, a rarity for the veteran right-hander. He retired the Twins’ dynamic leadoff man all three times, then departed to a round of applause from Nats fans. Mikolas, who was booed off this field at the home opener, responded by tipping his cap.

NOTABLE: The Nationals are hoping to have Luis García Jr. back in the lineup Thursday afternoon. García, out since Sunday with a minor sprain of his right hand/wrist, participated in defensive drills at first base this afternoon. He’s been feeling better when he swings, according to Butera.

UP NEXT: It’s a quick turnaround for both clubs, with Thursday’s series finale scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Minnesota native Jake Irvin makes the start for the Nats against right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM