Bailey Ober gives up season-high five runs as Twins are crushed by Nationals 15-2

Bailey Ober breezed through the first three innings in 35 pitches Wednesday night without allowing any baserunners during his first time navigating the Washington Nationals lineup.

Ober was nowhere near as effective the second or third time he faced each Nationals batter. He surrendered a season-high five runs in five innings, and no Twins reliever pitched better in an ugly 15-2 loss at Nationals Park.

It was the most runs the Twins allowed in a game this season. All six Twins pitchers allowed at least one run. Justin Topa gave up six runs in two-thirds of an inning, and Luis García allowed two homers - including a grand slam to CJ Abrams - during a seven-run eighth inning.

Nationals catcher Drew Millas hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off Ober in the fifth inning, Millas' first homer in an MLB game since June 21, 2024, and the Nats produced four extra-base hits during a three-run sixth inning against Ober and reliever Andrew Morris.

The Twins had a 2-1 lead after Matt Wallner hit an RBI single in the third inning, and he crushed a 420-foot solo homer to center in the fifth against right-handed starter Miles Mikolas. Both run-scoring hits came in at-bats where Wallner started with an 0-2 count.

Ober couldn't hold down the Nationals lineup. CJ Abrams laced an RBI double in the fourth inning, fouling four pitches before he connected on a slider. Millas, in the fifth inning, homered on a first-pitch 87-mph fastball.

In the sixth inning, Ober yielded back-to-back doubles to Abrams and Brady House before he exited with a two-run deficit. José Tena greeted Morris with an RBI double on his first pitch, blasting a down-the-middle changeup into the left-center gap. Nasim Nuñez added a two-out RBI triple on a line drive that was out of reach for a diving Wallner in right field.

House hit a two-run homer off Topa in the seventh inning, drilling an 82-mph slider over the center-field wall. James Wood hit a two-run single past a drawn-in infield in the eighth inning.

Topa walked two batters after Wood's hit, loading the bases as García entered. Abrams launched García's fourth pitch for his second career grand slam, and Tena hit a homer two batters later.

The Nationals had six players record multiple hits, outhitting the Twins 14-3. Washington totaled four homers, five doubles and one triple.

Ober, who struck out three, allowed five runs on six hits and two walks, which raised his season's ERA to 4.19. Ober yielded four runs (three earned) over his previous three starts, which covered 18 1/3 innings.

Turning point

Luke Keaschall opened the third inning with a check-swing double that he dropped into right field, and Wallner followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield.

Mikolas stranded Wallner, inducing a foul out and two grounders, and he retired 10 of his final 11 batters. The Twins, one of the majors' best teams at avoiding ground balls, had 12 groundouts against Mikolas.

New reliever on the way

The Twins traded for reliever Yoendrys Gómez on Wednesday acquiring the right-hander from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.

The Rays designated Gómez for assignment May 2 after the 26-year-old posted a 6.23 ERA in nine games with 13 strikeouts and 10 walks in 17 1/3 innings. Gómez is joining his fifth MLB team after previously pitching with the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.

The Twins will activate Gómez on their active 26-man roster once he reports to the team Friday, but he gives the bullpen a long reliever. Eight of his nine appearances with the Rays were multi-inning outings.

Christian Roa, who was pitching at Class AAA St. Paul, was designated for assignment to make room for Gómez on the 40-man roster.

Up next

The Twins will conclude their three-game series against the Nationals at 12:05 p.m. ET Thursday at Nationals Park. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5, 6.49 ERA) is eyeing a bounce-back start amid a rough stretch on the mound. Washington will send right-hander Jake Irvin (1-4, 4.93) to the mound.

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This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 7:13 PM.