Nationals Snap Losing Streak, Defeat Blue Jays 8-6
On July 28, 2026 the Washington Nationals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8‑6 after a 67‑minute rain delay. Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber started for Toronto but walked six of the nine batters he faced, including three with the bases loaded, and was removed after two‑thirds of an inning. He became the 11th pitcher in MLB history to issue at least six walks while recording two outs or fewer and the first to do so since Ryan Dempster on Oct. 5 2001. Bieber threw 42 pitches, only 15 strikes.
The Nationals capitalized on the walks, drawing six walks in the first inning – the most in a single inning since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. Luis García Jr. and Dylan Crews hit back‑to‑back home runs in the fourth inning. Cade Cavalli provided a solid six‑inning start, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits.
Washington’s win moved the club to one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the National League’s third wild‑card spot.
Entities: Dylan Crews · Kazuma Okamoto · Luis García Jr. · Shane Bieber · Toronto Blue Jays · Trey Yesavage · Washington Nationals
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Luis García Jr. and Dylan Crews hit back‑to‑back home runs for Washington in the fourth inning (García Jr. and Crews homered consecutively in the fourth.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Shane Bieber walked six of nine batters in his start against the Washington Nationals on July 28, 2026
- [● 3 SOURCES] The outing made Bieber the 11th pitcher in MLB history to walk at least six batters while recording two outs or fewer
- [● 10 SOURCES] Bieber threw 42 pitches, only 15 of which were strikes. (He threw 42 pitches, only 15 strikes.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Washington Nationals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The game was delayed 67 minutes due to rain
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Nationals drew six walks in the first inning, the most in an inning since the franchise moved to Washington before the 2005 season
- [● 3 SOURCES] The previous pitcher to achieve that was Ryan Dempster on October 5, 2001
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Nationals are one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for the National League’s third wild‑card spot. (They sit one game back of the Diamondbacks for the NL third wild‑card.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the game with right hamstring tightness. (article 2)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Nationals drew six walks in the first inning, the most in a single inning since moving to Washington in 2005. (both)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Luis Garcia Jr. and Dylan Crews hit back‑to‑back home runs in the fourth inning. (both)