Pirates Lose Another to Nats

From PittsburghPirates.com

WASHINGTON — The Pirates staged one comeback on Saturday afternoon, but couldn’t create a second one in a 9-8 loss to the Nationals.

Jose Bautista tore apart the Nationals for the second straight game. He had a home run, a double, an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in his first four plate appearances, and finished a triple shy of the cycle, popping out to first base in his last at-bat.

But Washington was hot offensively, too, including four hits and six RBIs from Cristian Guzman and three runs for Felipe Lopez.

Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Maholm and Washington’s Matt Chico each left the game with a no-decision after allowing five runs.

The Bucs fell behind early after the Nats scored five runs in the first two innings. The Pirates had chances, too, but stranded five baserunners in the first three innings, both on outs by Adam LaRoche.

But in the fifth, the team came alive, tying the game with five consecutive hits that scored three runs.

The Nationals answered with a four-run sixth, including a misplayed fly ball by Xavier Nady that loaded the bases with no outs.

In the seventh, the Pirates again loaded the bases, but could muster only a sacrifice fly from Bautista.