Pittsburgh Pirates Win Series Against Washington Nationals

The Pittsburgh Pirates earned a series victory over the best team in the National League on Thursday afternoon

The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 18-23 this season. This comes after earning a series victory over the best team in the National League, the Washington Nationals. After losing the first game of the series, the Pirates rallied to outscore the Nationals by a score of 16-5 the past two days.

This was a great series victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Entering this series the Nationals were the best team in the National League, yet the Bucs still won the series.

It did not take the Pirates long to take the lead on Thursday afternoon. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Josh Bell hit a 2-run home run to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. This was Bell’s second home run in as many days and 9th on the season.

Josh Bell’s 9 home runs not only leads the Pirates but also leads all National League rookies. He is well on his way to becoming the man to beat for National League Rookie of the Year.

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In the bottom of the 3rd inning, the Pirates would strike again. Josh Harrison walked, Andrew McCutchen singled, and Josh Bell walked to load the bases with no one out. John Jaso would then draw a bases loaded walk to make it 3-1 Bucs.

Then, Jordy Mercer hit a ground ball to third base. Mercer reached on a fielder’s choice, collected a RBI, and made the score 4-1 Pirates.

However, the Pirate lead would be short lived. In the top of the 4th inning, the Nationals tied the game due to an Anthony Rendon walk, Adam Lind double, and an error by Tyler Glasnow. This error caused 2 of the 3 runs to be unearned.

John Jaso would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th inning. Jaso’s 3rd home run of the season gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead. This was a lead the Pirate would never relinquish.

Tyler Glasnow started for the Pirates and while his outing was not great, it was much better than his 2 1/3 innings debacle last time out against Arizona. Glasnow allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, on 3 hits, 3 walks, a solo home run, and 6 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. He also collected a base hit at the plate.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates would start to bust this game wide open. Chris Stewart singled and Gift Ngoepe walked to give the Bucs a pair of runners on base with no one out.

Adam Frazier then doubled to score both Stewart and Ngoepe. The throw from the outfield would go to the plate allowing Frazier to advance to third base. This led to a sacrifice fly by Josh Harrison to make it 8-4 Pirates.

The Nationals threatened to get back into the game in the top of the 7th inning. With 2 men on base and 2 outs Bryce Harper came to the plate, but Felipe Rivero was called upon and he struck out Harper to end the threat.

Danny Ortiz recorded a 1-out single in the bottom of the 7th inning. This was Ortiz’s first career hit. After a Chris Stewart single, Adam Frazier would collect a hit to score both Ortiz and Stewart. This gave Frazier 4 RBI and made it 10-4 Pirates.

Johnny Barbato pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Daniel Hudson tossed a 1-2-3 9th that included a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

Next: Minor League Roundup: May 17

Next up for the Pirates in a 3 game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Trevor Williams will start for the Pirates and look to build on his strong start last time out against the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, the Phillies will counter with Jeremy Hellickson.

Currently, the Phillies have the second worst record in all of Major League Baseball at 14-24.

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