The Nationals beat the Reds 6-1 on July 23, 2025, snapping a series skid. Josh Bell homered and Riley Adams cleared the bases in a huge 5th inning rally.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a feeling that's been frustratingly rare for Washington Nationals fans this month: a series victory. But on Wednesday, the Nats put it all together, dispatching the Cincinnati Reds 6-1 at home to secure their first series win since the first week of July. Fueled by a fifth-inning offensive explosion and contributions from some of the newest and youngest faces on the roster, the win felt like more than just another game in a long season.
He's a 'jack of all trades, master of none.' - Evaluator consensus on new #1 overall pick and top prospect, Eli Willits.
The game turned on a dime in the bottom of the fifth. After trading early runs, the Nationals' offense, which has sputtered for weeks, came to life against Reds rookie Chase Burns. Josh Bell ignited the rally with his 13th homer of the year. The momentum snowballed from there, with Jacob Young and CJ Abrams lacing back-to-back RBI doubles. The exclamation point came from catcher Riley Adams, who slapped a bases-loaded single that, thanks to a Reds throwing error, cleared the bases and plated three runs. It was the kind of decisive, opportunistic inning the team has been desperate for.
The success wasn't limited to the plate. Making his first start since early May after a long stint in the bullpen, rookie Brad Lord looked composed, holding the Reds to just one run over four solid innings. Manager Miguel Cairo then turned to recently acquired Konnor Pilkington, who delivered two perfect innings of relief to earn his first win as a National. It was a textbook example of the 'next man up' mentality, with two pitchers stepping into crucial roles and shutting the door.
While the big league club celebrated, the long-term picture of the franchise got a bit of a shake-up. In Bleacher Report's updated post-draft rankings, the Nationals' farm system slid from 19th to 22nd. The drop comes despite landing shortstop Eli Willits with the first overall pick. The 17-year-old switch-hitter is now the organization's top prospect, but evaluators seem cautious, praising his high floor and polish but noting the absence of a truly elite, game-breaking tool. The consensus seems to be that while Willits is a safe bet to be a solid major leaguer, he may not have the superstar ceiling of past #1 picks.
The ranking is just a number; development is the real key. Farm director Eddie Longosz stressed the organization's focus on preparing its young pitchers. He highlighted the progress of top arms like Travis Sykora and Jarlin Susana, praising their work between starts. He also gave an early positive review to Alex Clemmey, the hard-throwing lefty acquired in the Lane Thomas trade. Clemmey is reportedly showing immense promise, and the hope is that the Nats' development staff can help him harness his control, unlocking a potential top-of-the-rotation arm. It's a reminder that building a winner is as much about coaching as it is about scouting.
One win, even a series win, doesn't change the trajectory of the season overnight. But Wednesday's victory was a welcome reminder of what this team can be when the young talent clicks. With contributions from up and down the roster and a farm system that, despite its new ranking, is brimming with projectable arms and a new #1 prospect, the path forward is taking shape. As the trade deadline looms, the front office continues to evaluate, but for one night, the focus was squarely on the field—and for the first time in a while, it ended with a win.
