Washington Nationals Get Even with Pittsburgh Pirates in 5-4 Win

Washington Nationals Get Even with Pittsburgh Pirates in 5-4 Win

The Washington Nationals avenged Monday's blowout loss, holding off the Pittsburgh Pirates twice in the final three innings to hang onto a 5-4 win.

Manager Blake Butera turned to an opener again with PJ Poulin pitching the first inning, allowing a solo home run and a pair of hits. Miles Mikolas then came out and allowed three hits and three earned runs, including a home run, in 3.1 innings before Mitchell Parker made his season debut hours after being called up.

Parker tossed five strikeouts and allowed just two hits in two innings, enough to pick up the win before Gus Varland picked up the save.

James Wood's hit streak ended after striking out in three at bats while also drawing a pair of walks, though CJ Abrams continued his consistent start where he notched a pair of RBIs and went 3-for-4 in the road win.

The first of those three RBIs came in the top of the first inning after Abrams capped off a three run inning for the Nationals, courtesy of three consecutive singles into center field.

Wood also stole third base in the opening inning, marking a rare feat despite the down game.

The Nationals entered the bottom of the fourth with a 5-1 lead after a two out single from Luis Garcia Jr. sent Nasim Nunez home, but Pittsburgh would answer by cutting the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame.

Yet the first scare would come in the bottom of the seventh after Cionel Perez came in to replace Parker, inheriting runners on second and third with one out. Despite getting behind in the at bat, Perez got out of the jam with a double play.

With Washington clinging to its one run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Varland got a pair of runners on base with just one out before tossing a strikeout then ending the game courtesy of a foul out along the first base line.

After taking game two to move to 8-9 overall, including 7-4 away from Nationals Park to open the 2026 regular season, the Nationals will look to get ahead in the series in the third of four games on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6:40 PM. Jake Irvin is set to take the mound for his fourth start this season where he'll look to trim his 7.07 ERA with 16 strikeouts through 14 innings.