Twins drop series finale to Nationals

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Twins’ bullpen has gotten its fair share of heat in recent days — and for good cause. On Wednesday, for example, the bullpen gave up 10 runs as the Twins were rocked by the Nationals.

The bullpen wasn’t without fault on Thursday, but there was plenty more blame to go around in a 7-5 loss to the Washington Nationals in the series finale at Nationals Park.

The Nationals took the lead for good in the seventh inning when rookie John Klein allowed a solo home run to Keibert Ruiz, untying a game that pinch hitter Josh Bell had knotted up a half-inning earlier.

It wasn’t the crispest of days for the Twins, who ran into two outs on the bases — Kody Clemens at home and Austin Martin in between third and home — and saw a ball drop in between Luke Keaschall and Matt Wallner in the fifth, bringing home the Nationals’ fifth run of the day.

And it wasn’t the easiest of starts for Simeon Woods Richardson, who remains winless on the season. The Twins are now 1-7 in games he has started. Woods Richardson was unable to make it through five innings for the fourth time in eight starts this season, chased out during a three-run fifth for the Nationals during which they collected just one hit.

The starter gave up two runs in the third to tie the game after Brooks Lee’s single to left had put them up in the second. And after the Twins scored in the fifth to take the lead, Woods Richardson was unable to hold it again.

The Twins chipped away at the Nationals’ 5-3 lead, using a Ryan Jeffers solo shot and Bell’s tying hit in the seventh, but they never led again after the fifth.

Injury updates

, who has been on the injured list since April 20 with right elbow inflammation, had a cortisone shot after feeling soreness during a simulated bullpen on Saturday, assistant general manager Alex Hassan said.