Key Offensive Plays
Jose Altuve provided the decisive blow in the eighth inning, launching a 402-foot home run to left-center field that extended the Houston Astros' lead to 6-2. Nick Allen was instrumental in building that advantage earlier, driving in three runs during the fourth inning. Allen first scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning and then delivered a two-run single to left field in the fourth, bringing home Dezenzo and Walker. He later scored on a Vázquez sacrifice fly in the same frame.
Washington managed to stay competitive through the middle innings. Wood opened the scoring in the first inning with a 419-foot home run to right-center. Abrams added an insurance run in the third with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Wood. The Nationals cut the deficit in the sixth when Vázquez singled to right, allowing Dezenzo to score. Tena capped the scoring with a 398-foot home run to right-center in the ninth.
Pitching Performances
Houston utilized a seven-man pitching staff to secure the victory. Andrew Alvarez took the loss for Washington, pitching 5.2 innings while allowing five earned runs on four hits and striking out three batters. Justin Lawrence and Matt Krook contributed in relief, with Krook striking out one batter in 0.2 innings. Riley Cornelio pitched 1.1 innings, striking out three, while Carson Palmquist closed out the game with a scoreless inning.
For the Astros, Steven Okert earned the win, pitching 1.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Enyel De Los Santos and Bryan King each recorded one-inning saves, with De Los Santos earning his eighth save and King his twelfth. Tatsuya Imai started for Houston, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing two earned runs. Alimber Santa pitched 0.2 innings, and Josh Hader recorded his tenth save in a brief 0.1-inning appearance.
