Final
Nationals, Pirates try to get one in at PNC Park
Apr 23, 2011 - 3:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals rank 29th in the majors in hitting and are coming off a shutout loss in which they managed just two hits. They hope a date with the just-as-feeble Pittsburgh Pirates can cure their issues at the plate.The Nats try to avoid a third straight loss this evening in the rescheduled opener of a three-game series with the Pirates at PNC Park.
The teams were supposed to begin the series Friday, but the game was postponed until Monday at 7:05 p.m. and will become the series finale.
Washington only got hits from Jayson Werth and Mike Morse in Thursday's 5-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Nationals' second straight defeat since a four-game winning streak. The club is hitting just .218 as a team, ahead of only the San Diego Padres (.217).
Tom Gorzelanny gave up two runs on two hits and four walks over five innings as Washington remains the only club in the majors to have had its starters go at least five innings in every game this season.
Washington could break out offensively after averaging 6.3 runs per game in taking five of six from Pittsburgh a season ago. Livan Hernandez certainly hopes so as he aims for his third straight winning start.
The 36-year-old has yielded just two runs over 13 2/3 innings of his modest winning streak that has upped his season record to 2-1 with a 2.88 earned run average. Hernandez held the Brewers to just a run on six hits over a seven- best seven innings without a walk last time out on Sunday.
The right-hander has faced the Pirates 16 times in his career, going 5-5 with a 5.52 ERA. He'll take on a Pittsburgh club tonight that was just swept in three games by the Florida Marlins, losing the first two contests by identical 6-0 scores before Thursday's 9-5 setback. The Pirates had won three of four prior to getting swept.
Pedro Alvarez's second-inning homer marked Pittsburgh's first runs of the series and first since the fifth inning of Monday's 9-3 win at Cincinnati. Alvarez came into the game batting just .177 and hitless in three straight, but went 3-for-4 with two RBI while falling a triple shy of the cycle.
Pittsburgh is 25th in the majors with a collective .233 average, but starter James McDonald didn't take the pressure off the offense by yielding eight runs over three innings to absorb the loss.
Jeff Karstens takes his turn in the rotation for the Bucs tonight as he continues to fill in for the injured Ross Ohlendorf after starting the year in the bullpen.
Karstens made his first start of 2011 on Sunday in Cincinnati, lasting 4 1/3 innings and giving up five runs with six strikeouts in a no-decision. The 28- year-old righty threw 76 pitches and didn't site fatigue as an issue after the game.
Karstens has struggled over is career when facing Washington, going 0-1 with an 8.56 ERA in four games (two starts) while allowing 13 runs in 13 2/3 innings.
- WASHINGTON: 2
PITTSBURGH: 7
Final
Apr 23 10:46 PM - Lyle Overbay single to left scored Andrew McCutchen with two out, on the play Jose Tabata was tagged out at third to end the inning.
Nationals 2, Pirates 7 End 6Apr 23 10:02 PM - Jayson Werth lead-off Home Run (3) to left. Adam LaRoche due up.
Nationals 2, Pirates 6 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 23 9:17 PM - Jose Tabata sacrifice fly to right scored Andrew McCutchen with one out. None on with one out and Lyle Overbay due up.
Nationals 1, Pirates 6 Bot 2, 1 OutApr 23 8:57 PM - Mike Morse single to right scored Adam LaRoche with one out. Runner on first with one out and Ian Desmond due up.
Nationals 1, Pirates 5 Top 2, 1 OutApr 23 8:45 PM - Ronny Cedeno single to left scored Ryan Doumit with two out. Runner on first with two outs and Jeff Karstens due up.
Nationals 0, Pirates 5 Bot 1, 2 OutsApr 23 8:40 PM - Pedro Alvarez groundout to second scored Garrett Jones with two out. Runner on third with two outs and Ronny Cedeno due up.
Nationals 0, Pirates 4 Bot 1, 2 OutsApr 23 8:38 PM - Ryan Doumit single to right scored Lyle Overbay with one out. Runners on first and third with one out and Pedro Alvarez due up.
Nationals 0, Pirates 3 Bot 1, 1 OutApr 23 8:34 PM - Garrett Jones double to right scored Jose Tabata with one out. Runners on second and third with one out and Ryan Doumit due up.
Nationals 0, Pirates 2 Bot 1, 1 OutApr 23 8:33 PM - Lyle Overbay infield single to second scored Andrew McCutchen with none out. Runners on first and third with none out and Neil Walker due up.
Nationals 0, Pirates 1 Bot 1, 0 OutsApr 23 8:27 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
PITTSBURGH: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 23 8:16 PM
Related News
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Getting more pitching in 2024 + more... Dec 26
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23
- The Pirates got it right with Andrew McCutchen Dec 22
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen makes comments after signing Dec 22
- Pirates targeting first baseman in upcoming MLB Draft Dec 22
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Keibert Ruiz, CS% and more… Dec 22
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates sign Ryan Mattson Dec 21
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Stephen Strasburg retirement?; 40-man spot + more... Dec 21
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 7 - Johan Oviedo shuts out the Royals Dec 20
- Andrew McCutchen re-signs with Pirates for 2024 season Dec 19
- Talk the Plank Podcast: The Pirates are a bit ‘Rowdy’ Dec 19
- Washington Nationals news & notes: Joey Meneses & DH duties vs playing the field… Dec 19