CJ Abrams carried the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, clubbing two home runs and driving in all three Washington runs in a 3-1 road victory over the Detroit Tigers. Abrams went 2-for-4 at the plate, providing the entire offensive punch the Nationals needed as reliever Jackson Kent earned the win and Erik Tolman closed it out with a three-strikeout save. The Nationals got solid contributions throughout the roster but Abrams was the clear difference-maker in a tight, well-pitched ballgame at Comerica Park.

CJ Abrams Powers Washington Offense with Two-Homer Night

Abrams did it all with his bat on Tuesday. Both of his hits left the yard, and his three RBI accounted for every Washington run on the board. Dylan Crews added two hits of his own in four at-bats, giving the top of the Washington lineup real teeth, but it was Abrams who put runs on the board when it counted.

Detroit's offense managed just one run despite getting multi-hit performances from Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5) and top prospect Max Clark (2-for-4). The Tigers simply could not string enough together against a Washington pitching staff that kept them off the board for long stretches.

Nationals Pitching Staff Holds Detroit to One Run

Washington used four pitchers to get the job done, and the group combined to allow just one earned run on seven hits with seven strikeouts.

  • Riley Cornelio opened and worked 2.2 innings, striking out four and allowing just one hit. He issued three walks but kept Detroit off the scoreboard entirely.
  • Jackson Kent followed with four innings of work, giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out three. Kent earned the win in the process.
  • Jack Sinclair bridged the gap with 1.1 scoreless innings, striking out one and issuing no hits.
  • Erik Tolman slammed the door in the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced to secure the save.

On the Detroit side, starter Drew Anderson took the loss after allowing three earned runs on five hits across six innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter, but the two home runs from Abrams proved to be too much to overcome. The Tigers bullpen — Tyler Kinley, Brant Hurter, and Beau Brieske — each threw a clean inning of relief, but Detroit's offense never gave them a lead to protect.

Turning Point: Abrams's Power Display Changes the Game

The game turned on Abrams's bat. Washington scored all three of its runs via the long ball, and Abrams's ability to go deep twice in a single game meant the Nationals never needed a rally or a big inning built on singles and walks. Detroit kept things competitive at 1-0 and then 3-1, but with Tolman finishing with three strikeouts in the ninth, the Tigers never had a real chance to claw back into it.

The combination of Cornelio's early strikeout work, Kent bridging deep into the game, and Tolman locking it down late gave Washington a clean, efficient win. Abrams's two-homer night was the engine, but the pitching staff made sure one run was all Detroit would ever get.

What's Next for the Washington Nationals

The Nationals continue their road series against the Detroit Tigers following Tuesday's win. Washington will look to build on this performance as the 2026 regular season winds toward its conclusion.