MINNEAPOLIS -- What on earth changed for [Jose Berrios](https://www.mlb.com/player/jose-berrios-621244)?\n\n“I changed my underwear,” Berrios said.\n\nTo be clear, he was kidding.\n\nBut what wasn’t a joke was how loose and enthusiastic the Twins’ 25-year-old ace was after emerging from a rough stretch of starts by throwing seven much-needed brilliant innings in the Twins’ 5-0 win over Washington on Tuesday night at Target Field. Berrios looks like he’s back on track. It couldn’t have come at a better time.\n\n• [Box score](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/567033/final/box)\n\nThe Twins lost their most consistent starter of the second half three days ago, when
The Twins tacked on with three runs in the eighth against the Nationals' bullpen, sealing a victory that kept them [five games ahead](https://www.mlb.com/standings) of the second-place Indians in the American League Central.\n\nBerrios’ fastball velocity was back again, as he averaged 93.6 mph and topped out at 95.0 mph with his four-seamer. But more importantly, he had the command of all of his pitches that had eluded him during a brutal six-start stretch since the beginning of August, during which he posted an 8.07 ERA.\n\nBerrios acknowledged during that stretch that he had been working through mechanical struggles. Though both he and Baldelli have indicated over the last few weeks that the right-hander hadn’t been trying to make significant changes, Garver definitely noticed a difference on Tuesday, starting from when he was catching Berrios in the bullpen before the game.\n\n“He was driving down the mound really, really well,” Garver said. “He was staying in line, and it didn't look as rotational as it had been recently. So he was really, really attacking down the mound, and I thought the ball was coming out of his hand incredible. His velocity was up a little bit. Breaking ball was moving better. Changeup was plus tonight. He threw the ball really well.\"
Berrios, who said that he’s been trying to keep his chest more closed in his delivery, threw strikes with 19 of his 37 four-seamers and 14 of his 23 curveballs. Though he only notched four strikeouts, he also only walked one batter, his fewest free passes since Aug. 11.\n\nThe Nationals’ offense entered the game third in the NL in slugging percentage (.456) and second in [wOBA](http://m.mlb.com/glossary/advanced-stats/weighted-on-base-average) (.339), but Berrios retired the first 13 batters in order before Howie Kendrick punched a solid single to right field with one out in the fifth inning. Trea Turner also singled in the sixth, and Anthony Rendon drew a walk in the seventh, but that was it against Berrios, who completed seven scoreless innings for the fourth time this season.\n\n“He was about as sharp as anyone could ever be,” Baldelli said. “He made every pitch he wanted to, the stuff was excellent, he just looked great from beginning to end. You could even make an argument he could have continued pitching out there the way he was going. It was a magnificent start, it really was.”\n\n
\n\nBerrios’ stellar outing loomed particularly large in light of Pineda’s season-ending suspension, which came during a tough stretch for the Twins’ rotation, which had been struggling with Berrios’ mechanical issues and