The Los Angeles Angels dropped a 6-5 decision to the Washington Nationals on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Nationals Park, watching a late lead slip away as Washington rallied to overcome a two-run deficit and close out the game in nine innings. The one-run loss stings — the Angels had the runs on the board to win this one and couldn't hold it. Luke Murphy absorbed the loss after a brutal eighth inning, and the Halos leave Washington empty-handed.

Angels Offense Gets Contributions from Neto and Ballesteros

The Angels' offense wasn't the problem Sunday. Shortstop Zach Neto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and one RBI, providing the kind of middle-of-the-order pop the Angels needed. The bigger punch came from Moisés Ballesteros, who went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, driving in two runs on limited at-bats. Those two bats accounted for three of the Angels' five runs, and both shots gave Los Angeles a lead it ultimately couldn't protect.

Murphy's Outing Proves Costly in Angels' Defeat

Starter Grayson Rodriguez handed things off after 5.1 innings, having allowed two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Rodriguez kept the Angels in a position to win, scattering the damage across his outing. Tayler Saucedo worked a clean inning in relief. But the game turned in the eighth, when Luke Murphy faced Washington's lineup and couldn't get through it — four hits, one walk, and four earned runs in a single inning unraveled the Angels' advantage. That was the ballgame. Sammy Peralta came on to limit further damage, striking out two in two-thirds of an inning, but the lead was already gone.

Washington's Lineup Stays Active Throughout

On the Nationals' side, James Wood, CJ Abrams, Yohandy Morales, and Daylen Lile each collected two hits in the game. Morales drove in one run and Lile added another. Erik Tolman earned the win with a clean inning of work — two strikeouts, no hits, one walk — after the Nationals had erased their deficit. Jack Sinclair notched the save despite allowing one earned run in the ninth, as Washington held on for the 6-5 final.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Moisés Ballesteros (LAA): 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Zach Neto (LAA): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Luke Murphy (LAA, Loss): 1.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Grayson Rodriguez (LAA): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
  • James Wood (WSH): 2-for-4
  • CJ Abrams (WSH): 2-for-4
  • Yohandy Morales (WSH): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Daylen Lile (WSH): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Erik Tolman (WSH, Win): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
  • Jack Sinclair (WSH, Save): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K

What's Next for the Angels

The Angels will look to regroup after this road loss. Washington did what good teams do at home — they stayed in the game, kept the lineup moving, and capitalized when the Angels' bullpen opened the door. Los Angeles had the runs to win this one. The pen just couldn't close it out.