Rough Start for the Orioles
The game kicked off with a rather disappointing start for the Orioles as the Washington Nationals hammered in a dominant top of the first inning, rattling off six runs
️. Our starting pitcher was in the hot seat right from the beginning, struggling to contain the Nationals' offense. Despite our boys hustling, Washington quickly put numbers on the board with key hits from the likes of CJ Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr.. We had some missteps, like a wild pitch that helped the Nationals' cause, and by the middle of the first, we were trailing 0-6. 
Middle Innings: Shutting Down the Nats
Despite the rocky start, the Orioles settled defensively in the following innings. Our pitching staff, particularly Cionel Perez and Yennier Cano, tightened the game, holding Washington scoreless from the 3rd to the 8th innings.
The bats, however, were unfortunately quiet until the 7th inning. Notable mention to Adley Rutschman who doubled in the seventh, and Ramon Urías helped break our scoring drought by driving Rutschman home. The 7th inning brought us a bit of life, and our defense matched step-for-step—building promise for the late innings comeback. 
Late Game Rally
The 9th inning had fans on their feet as we made a run again to narrow the gap. New addition Jorge Mateo chipped in with an RBI single, giving us hope. Then, young phenom Jackson Holliday blasted a three-run homer to energize Camden Yards
—cutting Washington’s lead to 10-6. Despite our valiant effort and Halliday's heroics, it wasn't quite enough to turn the tide. The Orioles showed heart and resilience in a game that showcased glimpses of potential and promise for the future—let's take this momentum forward. Keep cheering, Birdland! 
Scoreboard for Nationals @ Orioles (May 17th, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 1 |