Mikolas Struggles in Nationals 13-6 Home Opening Loss vs. Dodgers
· Yahoo Sports
The long awaited 2026 home opener for the Washington Nationals officially arrived on Friday, but it ended far from the celebrations that fans enjoyed ahead of the opening pitch.
The Nationals fell, 13-6, in embarrassing fashion to open the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And it didn't end there.
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In his second start of the season, Miles Mikolas set a franchise record after allowing 11 earned runs. It also marked a new career high for Mikolas and fourth time in his career that he has allowed at least ten earned runs, a disappointing first outing at Nats Park. Mikolas also tossed four strikeouts and one walk while allowing 11 hits in just 4.1 innings, also marking the first time in MLB history to record such a stat line.
Mikolas was also responsible for four of the five home runs allowed in the loss.
It's a humbling performance for the Nationals - and one that many within the fanbase feared when he became the first addition following the MacKenzie Gore trade.
Friday wasn't all bad for Washington after CJ Abrams posted his second home run of the season with his 387 foot, three run home run in the bottom of the first inning putting the Nationals up early, 3-0.
Abrams then notched his fourth RBI of the day in the bottom of the third inning after reaching base on an infield single, enough to get Daylen Lile home. His four RBIs matched his career high and marked the most in nearly exactly three years.
But both times, the Dodgers answered the Nationals' offense and then some after five runs in the third inning, a pair in the fourth inning followed by four in the fifth inning.
Mikolas exited the game with the Nationals trailing 10-4 before Gus Varland took over, eventually giving up a two-out single to make it 11-4 before getting out of the inning.
Ken Waldichuk's lone hit allowed with a 404 foot solo shot to make it 12-4, but he also posted a trio of strikeouts in a pair of innings while Andre Granillo allowed one run and a pair of hits in two innings.
The Nationals now sit at 3-4 following their third consecutive loss, a deflating reality after an encouraging first few games of the Blake Butera era. Washington will look to end the slide in game two of the series set for Saturday, April 4 with first pitch set for 4:05 PM.