Astros Beat Nationals 6‑3 Despite Imai’s Struggled Start

Imai’s Tough Go From a Cut‑Hand

Houston’s right‑hander Tatsuya Imai lasted only 3.2 innings, but a cut on the ring finger of his pitching hand sent his velocity wobbling. A trainer applied a cold towel to the mound in the second inning, and after that brief pause his arm steadied enough to finish the outing. Imai tossed 84 pitches, surrendered two earned runs on four hits, walked three, and struck out three. The injury‑affected line contributed to his inability to keep the Nats off the bases.

Okert’s Reliable Stinting Closes the Middle

When the game hung in the balance, Steven Okert was summoned to stabilize the Astros’ lead. The 2‑1 winner worked 1.1 innings without allowing a run, giving up a single and fanning three Nationals hitters. Manager Joe Espada often leans on Okert as his “stopper” in jam situations, and the pitcher delivered exactly that role tonight.

Elite Relief Corps Holds Washington At Bay

A quartet of relievers followed Okert, with Enyel De Los Santos, Bryan King, Bryan Abreu, Alimber Santa, and Josh Hader combining to shut down Washington’s potent offense. Hader recorded his tenth save of the season, locking down the 9th inning after the Nationals managed a lone run. Their collective effort kept the game within Houston’s grasp until the bat took over.

Bottom‑Order Fuels a Late Surge

The scoring came from Houston’s lower lineup, beginning with Nick Allen. A sac‑fly in the second tied the contest at 1‑1, and a two‑run single in the fourth brought in Christian Walker and Zach Dezenzo for a 3‑2 edge. Christian Vazquez added a sac‑fly in the fourth that plated Brice Matthews, pushing the margin to 4‑2. Vazquez struck again in the sixth, delivering an RBI single that sent Dezenzo home and made it 5‑2. The outburst continued when Jose Altuve launched a solo homer in the eighth, extending the lead to 6‑2.

Game Ends and Next Matchup Preview

Washington nudged back with a run in the ninth, but Hader was summoned to close the door, securing the 6‑3 victory. The Astros improve to 46‑48 while the Nationals drop to 47‑46. Looking ahead, Houston will send Spencer Arrighetti (7‑4, 3.81 ERA) against Washington’s Foster Griffin (9‑2, 2.87 ERA) tomorrow, aiming for a seventh series win in their last eight meetings.