Rookie Zebby Matthews stars as the Minnesota Twins blank the Washington Nationals 1-0 on July 26, 2025. Read how the rookie's masterpiece won the pitcher's duel.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In a game where every pitch felt monumental, the Minnesota Twins scraped out a gritty 1-0 victory against the Washington Nationals, and they have a new hero to thank: rookie pitcher Zebby Matthews. On a night when bats were silent, Matthews was electric, delivering the best start of his young career to prove that sometimes, one run is all you need when you have an ace on the mound.
His stuff was crisp today. He had good command of everything. - Catcher Ryan Jeffers on Zebby Matthews' dominant performance.
From the first pitch, it was clear Zebby Matthews was in a zone. The rookie right-hander carved through the Nationals' lineup with a confidence that defied his experience level. Catcher Ryan Jeffers summed it up best, praising Matthews for his 'crisp stuff' and excellent command. This wasn't just a good start; it was a statement. Following the game, Matthews expressed his gratitude on social media for the trust the organization has shown him, a trust he repaid with a masterful, game-winning performance that kept the Twins on the right side of the razor-thin margin.
The Twins' offense didn't light up the scoreboard, but they were opportunistic. The game's pivotal moment came in the fifth inning, not with a thunderous crack of the bat, but with patience and execution. Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore lost his command, issuing two walks and uncorking two wild pitches that allowed runners to advance. With a runner on third, Byron Buxton stepped up and did exactly what a veteran leader does: he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, easily scoring the game's only run. It was a masterclass in manufacturing a run and a reminder that wins can be forged in many ways.
With Matthews' day done, the bullpen slammed the door shut. Jhoan 'The Tsunami' Durán entered in the ninth and was his usual untouchable self, securing his 16th save of the season and preserving the shutout. The bullpen's strength was a timely topic, as the team also made a roster move. Lefty Anthony Misiewicz was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder impingement, leading to the recall of Kody Funderburk from Triple-A St. Paul. It’s a next-man-up mentality, and performances like tonight's show the depth the Twins are relying on.
This win was a testament to the old adage that good pitching beats good hitting. While the celebration is deserved, the front office knows that relying on a 1-0 score every night isn't sustainable. With the trade deadline looming, this stellar performance from the pitching staff might just be the final piece of evidence needed to push for a bat to bolster the lineup. For now, we'll savor a hard-fought victory and look to see if the offense can match the mound's intensity in the series finale tomorrow.
