Steven Okert’s relief stint Tuesday in Washington was preceded by a ride in the bullpen cart to the mound at Nationals Park, which has become a tradition for him.
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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes throws to first base for an out on a ball hit by Washington Nationals’ Jacob Young during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros’ Christian Walker (8) is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run on a sacrifice fly hit by Nick Allen (20) hit off Washington Nationals pitcher Andrew Alvarez during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros players greet each other after defeating the Washington Nationals in a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa walks off the field after manager Joe Espada removed him during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa throws during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals’ Nasim Nuñez is tagged on by Houston Astros shortstop Nick Allen while attempting to steal second base during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve (27) celebrates his home run with Isaac Paredes (15) off Washington Nationals pitcher Riley Cornelio during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve hits a home run off Washington Nationals pitcher Riley Cornelio during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros pitcher Bryan King throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes runs after hitting a single off Washington Nationals pitcher Matt Krook during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros’ Zach Dezenzo scores a run on a ball hit by Christian Vázquez off Washington Nationals pitcher Andrew Alvarez during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nuñez throws to first base on a infield single hit by Houston Astros’ Brice Matthews hit off pitcher Andrew Alvarez during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals pitcher Andrew Alvarez throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals’ James Wood hits a home run off Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals’ James Wood, left, is greeted by third base coach Victor Estevez (7) after hitting a home run off Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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Washington Nationals’ Luis García Jr. hits a single off Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
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WASHINGTON — At a critical moment Tuesday, manager Joe Espada emerged from the visitors’ dugout at Nationals Park and signaled to his bullpen. Steven Okert stepped through the bullpen door — and into his waiting ride.
Shaped like a baseball with a batting helmet for a roof, the Nationals’ bullpen cart offers to convey relief pitchers of the home and visiting teams alike to the infield area as they enter a game. Many opt instead for the traditional jog across the outfield to the pitcher’s mound.
“I told Joe today,” Okert said, “ ‘Just so you know, I’m going to be in the cart when I come in.’ ”
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Taking the cart is a custom for Okert, the Houston Astros left-hander, when at Nationals Park. Two years ago, with the Twins, Okert rode the cart in for an outing and tipped his driver with a $5 bill. What is not typical, he said, was what happened after his entrance Tuesday.
“I’ve been trying for four years now to get teammates to take it, and I’ve had one teammate in the past take it,” Okert said. “So I couldn’t believe all of them did.”
Five more Astros relievers followed Okert into Tuesday’s game. Four climbed into the cart and repeated the ride along the warning track to the infield area near the Astros dugout, all before contributing to an essential relief effort.
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After starter Tatsuya Imai lasted 3 ⅔ innings, six Houston relievers combined to work 5 ⅓ innings of one-run ball in a 6-3 win over the Nationals. All arrived by bullpen cart save for closer Josh Hader, who recorded the final out and the save.
“It started with Okert — of course,” Espada said. “And after that, everybody started following Okert. And hey, why not? He’s one of our leaders out there.”
He is also one of Espada’s most trusted matchup relievers, which prompted Okert’s appearance in the fourth inning Tuesday. Imai had retired its first two batters. But he then allowed a single and a walk to turn the Nationals lineup over.
James Wood, the left-handed hitting slugger, had hit his 25th home run of the season off Imai in the first inning. With a 4-2 lead, Espada did not let Imai face him again. Okert drew the assignment — arriving for it in the cart’s shotgun seat.
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After a shorter jog to the mound and warmup, Okert spun three consecutive sliders to Wood, who took strike one and whiffed at the next two to end the inning.
“It was a big matchup, big part in the game there,” Okert said. “Obviously, he’s been crushing fastballs. Just trying to go with my strength there and stay away from him and it worked out.”
Okert also worked a scoreless fifth inning and ultimately earned the win. What left him “proud,” though, was the ensuing ride procession.
Enyel De Los Santos was driven in before a scoreless sixth inning. So was Bryan King, who navigated the top of the Nationals lineup in a scoreless seventh.
“I was very surprised King took it,” Okert said. “So I asked him about it and he said, ‘Well, you guys both had a zero, so I had to take it.’”
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Bryan Abreu followed their lead before blanking Washington in the eighth. So did rookie Alimber Santa, who started the ninth with a four-run lead.
“I tell Abreu great job, then I asked him and he was like, ‘Yeah I took it!’ ” Okert said. “I couldn’t believe it. It was by far the most I’ve seen in a game. It’s got to be a record here.”
A home run by José Tena against Santa trimmed the lead to three. Espada turned to Hader with a runner on base and two outs. An infield single and a walk loaded the bases, bringing the possible winning run to the plate. Hader struck out Dylan Crews to convert his 10th save and conclude the bullpen effort.
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Afterward, Okert recalled that the first time he rode the bullpen cart in for an outing it was “freezing” at Nationals Park, but “every time since then it’s been hot like this, so why wouldn’t you save your energy?”
“Ride it out,” Okert reasoned, “and have a little extra for the mound.”