Nats Run Away Late, Take Series 7-1

The game started 10 minutes late due to a passing rainstorm, and that was too soon for Steven Brault. A leadoff double and bunt single, with J-Bell missing the throw, made it 1-0. Another double and a bouncer chased home a second run before Starling ran down a gapper. Max Scherzer tossed a clean opener. A leadoff single, followed by a two-bagger and walk with two away in the second, jammed the bases, but Steven escaped. Redbeard doubled and Melky singled to put Bucs on the corners with an out, but no cigar. Something different in the third; another DC double, but again, Brault held his ground. Fraze got a point back with a one-out dinger. With two outs, Starling legged out a roller and stole second and third ahead of a J-Bell walk, but it ended up just a coupla more stranded Buccos. The Nats got a fourth-inning single; the Bucs went down in order. Steven spun a quiet fifth, and Wander Suero came in (Scherzer is fresh off the IL; they called it a day for him after 71 pitches). He gave up a B-Rey knock in an otherwise routine frame.

Steven didn't have much help tonight - photo Joe Guzy/Pirates

The Nationals went 1-2-3 in the sixth, ditto for the Pirates with Hunter Strickland on the hill. Ric Rod spun a two-whiff seventh. K-Man opened with a rap. With an out, Newman swiped second. Joey O ripped one to the track in center that Victor Robles ran down; Kevin tagged to third and died there. Chris Stratton got the eighth inning call, and a walk and Howie Kendrick's homer widened the gap to 4-1. A double, single, stolen base and another rap (all with two outs and the bases empty) added two more runs to the tote board. Fernando Rodney sat the Bucs down without a peep. Stratton gave up another homer in the ninth, this one to Anthony Rendon. A walk and two singles loaded the sacks with an out, but taking a page from the Bucs' book, the Nats left 'em packed. Javy Guerra gave up a two-out, dribbler knock to K-Man before driving the final nail in the coffin.

*sigh* Corey D and Cervy are the lucky ones, it seems.

Notes:

• K-Man had two hits; he was the only Pirate to reach base safely twice tonight.
• There were 10,587 at the yard tonight.
• The Pirates have given up 185 home runs, the most in franchise history, and it's only August. Oddly enough, in the year of the juiced ball, they're only middle-of-the-pack in gopher balls allowed league-wide.