In a tense pitcher's duel at Nationals Park, the Washington Nationals edged out the Athletics 2-1 on Wednesday night, riding clutch hitting and dominant bullpen work to snap a tight contest. The game turned in the 7th when Riley Adams—mired in a season-long slump—delivered the decisive blow, launching a solo homer off Athletics reliever Michael Kelly to break a 1-1 deadlock. It was Adams' only hit in three at-bats, but it proved golden, salvaging a night where Washington's offense managed just five hits total. Cade Cavalli set the tone early, carving through Oakland's lineup with six strikeouts over 4.1 scoreless innings in his season debut, while the bullpen combined for 4.2 shutout frames to seal the victory.

The Athletics' lone run came courtesy of Tyler Soderstrom's 4th-inning solo shot, but their bats otherwise faltered against Washington's relentless pitching. Shea Langeliers and JJ Bleday each notched singles, but Oakland stranded four runners and struck out 12 times as a team. The loss drops the A's further in the wild-card hunt, while the Nationals—buoyed by Adams' timely power and a lights-out bullpen—gain momentum in their push for respectability in a crowded NL East.