After two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals took the field at Nationals Park to wrap up their three-game series. Not sure if it was the rain delay or enjoying yesterday’s doubleheader sweep too much, but Washington made easy work of Pittsburgh this afternoon with a 7-2 victory.
The Nationals struck early and often beginning in the first inning when Jeimer Candelario plated a pair with a double to center. In the second inning three more runs would score for Washington. The first two came on a Luis Garcia single to center. He would then come in to score when Joey Meneses singled to center.
The Pirates grabbed their first run of the day in the third on a Bryan Reynolds single to center, which scored Ji Hwan Bae. The Nationals grabbed two more runs in the bottom half of the inning on a Victor Robles double to left. Tucupita Marcano drove in the final run of the night in the ninth when he singled to center to score Connor Joe.
Johan Oviedo had his shortest start of the season, going just 2.1 innings allowing seven runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout. Clearly Derek Shelton would have liked to get more out of his starter the day after a doubleheader. Pittsburgh would then use four relief pitchers over the next 5.2 innings. During that time, they would keep Washington scoreless, giving up six hits to go with two walks and four strikeouts.
Nationals starter Josiah Gray worked six innings, giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Andres Machado pitched the seventh and eighth, allowing one hit and striking out one batter. The ninth belonged to Kyle Finnegan and he would give up one run on two hits with two strikeouts.
As former Bucco skipper Clint Hurdle use to say after tough losses, “shower well” which is exactly what this team needs to do with an off day tomorrow. They still won the series and now will head south to begin a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa currently holds the best record in baseball, so this should be an exciting series between these two surprising teams.
Record vs. Nationals: 2-1
Record vs. N.L. East: 2-1
Record on the Road: 11-5
Overall Record: 20-9
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
