TL;DR The Minnesota Twins defeated the Washington Nationals 11-3, with Byron Buxton hitting a three-run homer. Taj Bradley pitched six strong innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out eight batters.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 05: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a three run home run against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on May 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after hitting a three run home run against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on May 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nationals got on the board first in this game. After a walk to Daylen Lile , Curtis Mead doubled to make it 2nd and 3rd with just one out. CJ Abrams hit a grounder to Luke Keaschall who tried to get Lile out at the plate, but Lile was too quick, putting them up 1-0.
The Twins answered back in the 2nd, though, as Brooks Lee hit a 2-run double with 2 outs to put the Twins in front 2-1.
After a 26 pitch 1st inning, Bradley allowed a walk to Nasim Nuñez and a single to José Tena. He retired the next 3 batters, but with his pitch count at 47 through two innings, it was looking like Taj might not have his best stuff tonight. From the 3rd inning on, though, Taj Bradley settled in. He made quick work of the Nationals batters in the 3rd and 4th innings, throwing just 18 pitches total. In the 5th, he gave up a double to Lile then an RBI single to Curtis Mead, but came back with a clean 6th inning to cap off his night.
In the 4th, the Twins nearly batted around on Cade Cavalli . After a single and two walks, Brooks Lee hit a grounder to Cavalli that he couldnât handle, allowing a run to score. Then, after a Royce Lewis sac fly RBI, Trevor Larnach plated two more with a double, putting the Twins up 6-1.
In the top of the 8th, Byron Buxton got his first hit this season with runners in scoring position, a 3-run homer to left to put the final nail in the coffin. Thatâs his 11th of the year, all of those in his last 19 games. That puts him in some good company.
Brooks Lee would hit another RBI double in the 9th, pushing the score up to 11-3, our final tonight.
**Studs:**
Taj Bradley: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Brooks Lee: 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Luke Keaschall: 1-2, 3 BB, 2 R
Trevor Larnach: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Byron Buxton: 1-6, HR, 3 RBI
**Duds:**
NO DUDS TWINS WIN!
