The Nationals, for the second time this week, have dropped a heartbreaking extra-innings game against a division rival. Just like Monday night, the Nats had numerous opportunities to put this game away and in the win column, but could not get the job done.

Interestingly enough, considering it was a hard loss, there were plenty of positives to hang our hats on tonight. Miles Mikolas did an excellent job with potentially a rotation spot on the line, tossing five scoreless innings. CJ Abrams was magnificent, coming up with a clutch homer in the eighth and a huge two-run triple in the tenth in front of a full contingent of his family and friends. The negatives? Same as usual. The Nationals’ bullpen just isn’t good at all, and the bottom of their batting order just might be worse.

The Nationals have got to be anxiously awaiting the day David Peterson retires. Besides one rocky start against Washington earlier this season, Peterson’s track record of terrorizing the Nationals has been a legacy he’s carried on over multiple seasons now.

Even in the midst of what’s been a brutal start to the season for Peterson, he found it in himself to toss five innings of one-run ball this afternoon to keep the Nats from bringing their record back above .500. In his own right, Cade Cavalli was awesome today, going a full seven innings of two-run ball today on just 84 pitches, in the latest of what’s been a strong stretch for him of late. At the end of the day, when you only allow the other team to score two runs, you should win the game, and the Nationals’ offense wasn’t able to make that happen today.