Friday night sure did rock in Washington D.C. as the Nationals [34-33] hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates [39-27] who just finished off a four-game series sweep against the Chicago White Sox. The Nationals, who were without their most productive offensive player Bryce Harper [.344 BA, 22 HR, 54 RBI) mustered only four runs with a staggering 14 hits but still found a way to snap the Pirates’ eight-game winning streak, winning tonight’s game, 4-1.
A.J. Burnett took the mound tonight pitching with a 2.51 ERA on the road this season allowing 36 hits and winning four games. Burnett, who has been having a solid 2015 campaign, cracked early allowing two runs in the first inning. The opening run came from a ground ball to short as center fielder Denard Span was brought in from third by third baseman Yunel Escobar. Catcher Wilson Ramos would eventually bring in second basemen Anthony Rendon from second to give the Nationals an early 2-0 lead over the Buccos.
Pittsburgh would respond promptly in the top of the second inning. Third basemen Jung Ho Kang led off the inning with a single, followed by another single from catcher Francisco Cervelli. Kang would advance to third on Cervelli’s single and touch home plate as right fielder Gregory Polanco singled to right field bringing the Pirates within one, 2-1.
In the bottom of the third, the Nationals would add another run to their lead. After a throw by Kang that was just wide of first basemen Pedro Alvarez Escobar would find himself on second base and would later be brought home by Ramos giving the Nats a 3-1 lead.
Pitcher Joe Ross came into the game locating his pitches with pin point accuracy. At the conclusion of the fifth inning, Ross struck out nine batters and allowed only one run with a handful of hits. Burnett wasn’t without his fair share of success, as he ended up pitching out of several bases loaded jams and finished the game with seven strikeouts and allowed a career high 14 hits in six and two thirds innings.
The seventh inning would spell the end for Burnett along with Gregory Polanco, who crashed into the right field wall when attempting to play a ball hit by short stop Danny Espinosa. The triple would bring in right fielder Clint Robinson and give a three run lead, 4-1.
Manager Clint Hurdle would make a double switch after the triple by Espinosa, putting Jose Tabata in right field and bringing in reliever Jared Hughes would get the final out retiring the seventh inning.
After retiring short stop Jody Mercer, Ross would be relieved for by David Carpenter, however, not before giving up a hit to Tabata. This hit would become mute as Carpenter would make his fourth straight scoreless appearance, getting second basemen Josh Harrison to fly out and left fielder Starling Marte to ground out to second.
The Pirates would get good relief work from Hughes; however, the Buccos’ offense would only be able to squeeze out one run against an ailing Nationals ball club. Among the first five hitters, only Marte and Kang could find a hit, something that needs to improve to yield a more consistent offense.
Pittsburgh will face the Nationals again tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. in game two of the three game series.
