MLB: Miguel Andujar’s blast lifts Pirates over Nationals in Game 1

Date:

Share post:


Miguel Andujar’s tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning lifted the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Andujar went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Connor Joe went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs for Pittsburgh. Rodolfo Castro added two hits for the Pirates, who won for the 10th time in their past 11 games.

Pittsburgh starter Rich Hill (3-2) allowed three runs — two earned — on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks in 6 1/3 innings before being relieved by Robert Stephenson, who closed out the seventh. Colin Holderman pitched a perfect eighth and David Bednar struck out two in the ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Riley Adams went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Luis Garcia went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs and Alex Call also collected two hits for the Nationals, who dropped their second straight game.

Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Nationals pulled to within 4-3 when Lane Thomas’ RBI grounder scored Garcia, who had led off with a triple.

The Pirates plated two more runs in the eighth after loading the bases with no outs. Reliever Anthony Banda walked Austin Hedges to force home pinch runner Jack Suwinski before reliever Erasmo Ramirez gave up a sacrifice fly to Brian Reynolds that scored Ji Hwan Bae for a 6-3 advantage.

Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Andujar’s single to left that scored Joe, who led off to walk and took second on Castro’s base hit.

The Pirates doubled their lead in the fourth when Joe blasted Washington starter Patrick Corbin’s sinker 411 feet over the center field fence.

Washington pulled even in its next at-bat on Adams’ two-run double to left that scored Garcia and Garrett.

After giving up a double to Andrew McCutchen to open the sixth inning and getting Joe to ground out, Corbin was relieved by Carl Edwards Jr. Edwards induced a Castro to ground out to second, but seven pitches later Andujar blasted a two-run shot to center, giving Pittsburgh a 4-2 advantage.

Corbin (1-4) gave up three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

spot_img

Related articles

MLB: Brewers acquire RHP Quinn Priester from Red Sox

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-hander Quinn Priester from the Boston Red Sox on Monday for a package that...

MLB: Yankees bring back RHP Adam Ottavino

The New York Yankees signed veteran right-hander Adam Ottavino to a major league contract on Monday, days after...

MLB: Red Sox OF Jarren Duran details suicide attempt in docuseries

The pressures associated with being a professional athlete led Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran to attempt suicide,...

MLB: Hot Padres out to take advantage of A’s hitter-friendly park

If their 8-7 road win against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday is any indication, the San Diego Padres...

FREE

Get the most important breaking news and analyses for Free.

Thank you for subscribing

Something went wrong.