
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost 5-4 to the Washington Nationals after a questionable late-game decision hindered their comeback effort. The Nationals scored three runs in the first inning, setting the tone for the game.
Photo provided by Matt Lynch
PITTSBURGH — A curious late-game decision may have cost the Pittsburgh Pirates in a comeback attempt that came up short resulting in a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on Tuesday night.
Top 1st, 3-0 WSH: The first five batters of the game reached against Mitch Keller and the Nationals (8-9) pushed across three runs. Brady House, Daylen Lile and CJ Abrams all recorded RBI singles.
Bottom 1st, 3-1 WSH: Brandon Lowe connected on a solo home run to right field off left-hander PJ Poulin, who was used as an opener for righty Miles Mikolas. Lowe has homered in each of his last three games (four HRs total).
Top 3rd, 4-1 WSH: Abrams hit his second homer in as many games, a solo shot to right off Keller (1-1) to tack on another run for the Nats.
Top 4th, 5-1 WSH: Keller’s struggles continued in the fourth. With two on and two out, Luis García Jr. drove home a run with a single to right field.
Bottom 4th, 5-3 WSH: Marcell Ozuna collected his first RBI with the Pirates (10-7) on a run-scoring double to left field against Mikolas. Nick Gonzales tacked on another with a groundout to second base, which plated Bryan Reynolds from third base.
Bottom 5th, 5-4 WSH: Joey Bart first home run of the season was off Mikolas and knocked the right-hander out of the game. The solo shot just barely cleared Lile’s glove at the left field wall.
The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning. Manager Don Kelly opted to pinch hit Nick Yorke for Brandon Lowe. Left-hander Cionel Pérez entered the game for fellow lefty Mitchell Parker and induced an inning-ending double play on a 3-1 pitch.
Konnor Griffin doubled with one out in the ninth and Joey Bart followed with a walk, but Gus Varland earned his second save of the season after striking out Oneil Cruz and Nick Yorke popped out in foul ground to the first baseman.
Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two RBI. He has four hits, two home runs and three RBI so far this series.
Pirates (since RBI became official in 1920) with 4+ homers and 11+ RBI in a three-game span:
The Pirates have not yet announced a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game. RHP Jake Irvin (1-1, 7.07 ERA) will start for the Nationals. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
The post Pirates Comeback Effort Falls Short vs. Nats; Curious Late-Game Decision Backfires appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
The final score was 5-4 in favor of the Washington Nationals.
A curious late-game decision by the Pirates may have cost them the chance to complete their comeback.
Brady House, Daylen Lile, and CJ Abrams each recorded RBI singles in the first inning.
The Nationals scored three runs in the first inning with the first five batters reaching base against Mitch Keller.

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