Richard Lovelady came on with two runners on in the ninth inning and struck out Adley Rutschman to earn his second save of the season.

The plan originally was for Andrew Alvarez to go four and piggyback off Zack Littell, but Alvarez allowed a single and walk to start the ninth inning. Gus Varland, the closer in name if not in results, walked Leodys Taveras, struck out Coby Mayo, and allowed a sacrifice fly to get the Nationals to two outs. Then the Nationals summoned Lovelady to deal with lefty-hitting Gunnar Henderson. Henderson singled to bring the Orioles within a run, and after a Taylor Ward walk loaded the bases, the lefty was able to freeze Adley Rutschman on the outside corner to end the game. Varland still looks like the closer to roster in this pen in fantasy leagues, but the Nationals don't really have a good answer right now.