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CJ Abrams led the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a home run and three hits. He contributed two RBIs and helped extend the Nationals' lead during the game.
PITTSBURGH (AP) â CJ Abrams went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs as the Washington Nationals held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Abrams hit a solo shot down the left-field line in the fourth inning to extend the Nationalsâ lead to 4-1. He also hit the third of three consecutive RBI singles in the first inning, following Brady House and Daylen Lile, as Washington took a 3-0 lead.
The shortstop is 9 for 17 in his last five games with three home runs and seven RBIs.
Recalled from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, left-hander Mitchell Parker (1-0) struck out five in two scoreless innings of relief as the Nationals won for the fourth time in five games.
Gus Varland pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save, working around a double and a walk.
Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart hit solo homers for the Pirates. It was Loweâs seventh of the season.
Lowe became just the fourth Pirates player to hit at least four home runs and drive in 11 runs in a three-game span. Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner did it in 1947 and 1949, and Jose Castillo did it in 2006.
Pittsburghâs Marcell Ozuna, who entered the game with a .070 batting average, had two hits and his first RBI of the season. Oneil Cruzâs 12-game hitting streak ended as he went 0 for 5.
Left-hander P.J. Poulin opened for the Nationals and gave up Loweâs homer. Miles Mikolas followed and allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Mitch Keller (1-1) gave up five runs and six hits over four innings.
The start of the game was delayed 18 minutes because of rain.
Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-2, 7.09 ERA) will start on Wednesday night. The Pirates have not named a starter.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
CJ Abrams went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs in the game against the Pirates.
The Nationals secured their win with a strong start, leading 3-0 in the first inning and maintaining their advantage to finish the game 5-4.
Mitchell Parker was the winning pitcher for the Nationals, striking out five in two scoreless innings of relief.
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