April 14, 2019 – Pirates 4, Nats 3 – Nationals Park

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/pirates-vs-nationals/2019/04/14/565902#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=wrap,game=565902

 

Weather: 73 degrees, Cloudy.

Wind: 10 mph, Out To LF.

Umpires: HP--Danley, 1B--Carlson, 2B--Barry, 3B--Lentz.

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 22,347

 

Both starting pitchers got off to a slow start this afternoon. The Pirates jumped on Scherzer in the first on a two-out RBI double by Josh Bell, followed by Colin Moran’s run-scoring single. The Nats got one back when Eaton led off with a single, stole second, and immediately scored on Howie Kendrick’s RBI double, although they were unable to get Kendrick home. In the third, the visitors threatened to duplicate their 2-run first, but this time after Bell’s double, Michael A. Taylor gunned him down at the plate on Moran’s single, limiting the damage to one run. The Nats got the better of things in the bottom of the frame; after Eaton walked and Kendrick singled him to third, Rendon drove in the former on a grounder, and Soto singled home the latter to tie things up at 3.

 

Things quieted down in the middle of the game. The Bucs lifted starter Jameson Taillon after 6. Max hit for himself in the bottom of the 7^th (and singled), and pitched a scoreless 8^th despite an Adam Frazier double. Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vazquez (who went by Felipe Rivero when he was with the Nats) kept the home team off the board in the bottom of the inning.

 

With Doolittle unavailable for the 9^th after pitching the previous two days, Martinez brought in Wander Suero, who the previous day had become one of the few Nats this season to produce a damage-free 8^th inning. He promptly walked the leadoff batter, and then allowed a two-out double by Jason Martin to put Pittsburgh back in front.

 

After making the final out in the top of the inning, Vazquez came back out for the bottom of the 9^th. With nothing to lose, Davey rolled the dice and used Victor Robles to pinch-hit for Wilmer Difo, the only legitimate shortstop on the roster. Robles came through with a single to get things started. After Dozier fanned, the Nats made things even more interesting when Taylor worked a walk and Eaton laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Vazquez ultimately prevailed against his former team, however, fanning Kendrick and retiring Rendon on a fly to center to seal the win.