CJ Abrams hits a leadoff homer and steals 3 bases as the Nationals beat the Twins 7-2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — CJ Abrams hit a leadoff homer, stole three bases and scored three runs as the Washington Nationals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Sunday.

Nationals starter Jake Irvin (8-5), a Twin Cities native pitching at Target Field for the first time, gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings. Josh Bell went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Matt Wallner homered and Harrison Bader had two hits for Minnesota, which has lost six of nine since the All-Star break.

Daylen Lile tripled and scored on Paul DeJong's sacrifice fly in the fourth to put the Nationals on top 3-2.

Washington broke it open with four runs in the fifth off Travis Adams (1-1), keyed by Alex Call's two-run single.

Abrams hit the first pitch of the game from Twins opener Cole Sands for his 14th home run of the season.

After the Twins tied it on Wallner's second-inning homer, Abrams manufactured a run for the Nationals. He led off the third inning with a single, stole second and third and scored on Luis García Jr.'s sacrifice fly.

Minnesota tied it again on Trevor Larnach's sacrifice fly in the bottom half.

Leading 4-2, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the fifth. Call hit a grounder up the middle that second baseman Brooks Lee was ready to turn into an inning-ending double play. Instead, the ball skipped off the side of the mound and caromed over Lee's head for a two-run single.

Abrams has five leadoff homers this year and 12 in 470 career games.

Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14 ERA) will take the mound for the Twins on Monday as they open a three-game series against visiting Boston. The Nationals travel to Houston, where Brad Lord (2-5, 3.39) will start on Monday.

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Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile runs through second base after hitting a triple against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Minnesota Twins' Harrison Bader reacts after hitting a double against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Washington Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams runs through second base after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian Open's first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.

There was Crowded House, the band, playing a set of four hits. There was a full house — a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat stadium.

Rod Laver, the great Australian player of Grand Slam fame, was in the house. The 87-year-old Aussie was sitting courtside in Rod Laver Arena, the center court at Melbourne Park named in his honor.

Federer, the six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.

It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.

Novak Djokovic, who has won 10 Australian titles among his record 24 major championships, was there to watch.

The Australian Open main draw singles competitions start Sunday. Djokovic plays his opening match on Monday.

Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 edition into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.

Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour.

“It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said. “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars.

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Ash Barty of Australia in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Rod Laver, centre, waves ahead of a doubles match between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi of the United States, left, and Lleyton Hewitt, right, and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andre Agassi, right, of the United States react in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Novak Djokovic, right, of Serbia embraces Roger Federer of Switzerland during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts with partner Andre Agassi, left, of the United States in their doubles match against Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter of Australia during the Opening Ceremony for the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)