Nats Snap Bucco Streak 4-1

Well, every outing being a Cy Young performance had to end, and it did tonight. AJ gave up 14 hits - though remarkably, just four runs -  against the Nats. Many were soft; Pedro's play at first allowed a couple more runners, there was a walk...ugh; regression can be an ugly sight. At least Burnett hung in long enough to not burn a bullpen that already has been working OT by getting into the seventh, and he kept the club within hailing distance.

And that was about as close as it got. The Pirate attack, which has been running pretty close to empty despite the winning streak, couldn't solve rookie Joe Ross. For a AA kid making his third start, he did a good job of keeping the ball down and got stronger as the game went on. He fanned 11 Buccos and 13 were punched out overall. Gregory Polanco, who had two of Pittsburgh's six hits, drove in the Bucs only run in the third, plating JHK.

El Coffee had two hits and a fence-kiss tonight (photo Baseball America)

It doesn't get any easier tomorrow afternoon when Frankie matches up with Max Scherzer.

• AJ gave up a career high 14 hits tonight. On the cool side of the pillow, his seven K moved him past Andy Pettitte on the all-time list with Sudden Sam next to go.
• Gregory Polanco did a face plant into a link fence trying to run down a Danny Espinosa triple. The hit chased AJ and El Coffee had to leave the game. His knee was wrapped afterward, and he's a maybe for tomorrow's game.
• The Bucs went into tonight with a short pen. Mark the Shark was scheduled for a break, and Clint said if he had his druthers, Tony Watson & Arquimedes Caminera would get some down time, too. They did get the day off as Jared Hughes picked up the last four outs, tho it seemed to us to be a perfect spot to get Vanimal a little work. 
• A-Rod, to mixed emotions, got his 3,000th hit tonight, a homer off Justin Verlander.