WASHINGTON – Zack Littell didn’t make excuses or become complacent. The nine-year veteran knew he could pitch better, and he did not hide his disappointment earlier this season when he didn’t deliver on those expectations.
Littell has been turning a page since his ERA peaked at 7.85 on April 28.
In the Beltway Series opener against the Orioles on Friday, Littell pitched five scoreless innings and earned the win in the Nationals’ 3-2 victory.
Over his last three outings, Littell has posted a 2.13 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and .186 opponents’ batting average.
Littell allowed two hits, two walks, one hit-by-pitch and three strikeouts across 87 pitches. He was able to fend off hard contact from the Orioles. Of the three balls put in play at more than 100 mph, only one resulted in a hit. Littell gave up a 111.9 mph double to Gunnar Henderson, but he induced fly balls on two triple-digit exit velocities against Henderson (100.1 mph) and Pete Alonso (101.3 mph).
Littell delivered five-plus scoreless frames for the ninth time in his career. He had not done so since July 30, 2025, against the Yankees as a member of the Rays.
The Nationals then turned to long reliever Andrew Alvarez. The southpaw, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Friday, worked three innings with three hits, two runs and five strikeouts.
Gus Varland and Richard Lovelady combined to close out the ninth. Lovelady escaped a bases-loaded jam and earned his second save of the season.