Brandon Lowe's grand slam leads Rays to 3-game sweep of Nationals

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 31, 2025

Published in Baseball

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WASHINGTON — Brandon Lowe’s second-inning grand slam sparked the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-4 win on Sunday and a three-game sweep of the lowly Washington Nationals.

The Rays improved to 67-69 as they head home for series against the Seattle Mariners, who hold the third American League wild-card spot; and Cleveland Guardians, who are one of three teams between Tampa Bay and Seattle.

The Rays jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning, with Lowe delivering the big hit, a two-out grand slam.

Josh Lowe, who had two homers on Saturday, continued his hot streak with a leadoff double against Nationals starter Brad Lord, a former USF pitcher. Bob Seymour followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Everson Pereira tapped a ball toward third that became an RBI single, with Seymour going to third on an errant throw.

Lord, who pitched at USF in 2021-22, struck out Hunter Feduccia but walked Tristan Gray to load the bases, and Carson Williams to force in a run. After Chandler Simpson struck out, Brandon drove a 1-2 slider 367 feet over the right-field fence.

It was Brandon’s second homer of the series, third of the road trip, ninth of August and 28th for the season. It also was his fifth grand slam, tying Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena for the franchise lead.

The Rays expanded the lead to 7-0 in the third when Josh led off with a triple and scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Pereira.

Ian Seymour, who zipped through the first two innings in his second big-league start, gave up hits to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters and one run in the third.

He had a little more trouble in the fourth, allowing three runs, though two errors by his teammates were part of the messy inning.

Seymour allowed a leadoff walk and a single before a hard grounder by Dylan Crews that third baseman Junior Caminero couldn’t handle scored one run. Seymour got the next two Nationals out but gave up a single to left by Brady House that scored two, cutting the lead to 7-4. House moved to second on Simpson’s errant throw home, but Seymour retired Jacob Young to prevent further damage.

Seymour worked five innings, allowing the four runs (though only one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out eight.

Closer Pete Fairbanks made it interesting in the ninth, allowing a leadoff single and then what initially looked to be a one-out double, though the Rays challenged the call and Daylen Lile was called out trying to get to second. Fairbanks then got the third out for his 24th save.

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