Nick Gonzales drives in 3 runs as the Pirates beat Nationals a night after being no-hit
PITTSBURGH — Nick Gonzales highlighted a five-run second inning with a two-run single and finished with three RBIs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 9-4 Thursday, one night after being no-hit.
Oneil Cruz sharply hit a two-out double to right in the opening inning for the Pirates' first base knock after managing just three baserunners — two walks and an error — against Chicago a night earlier when the Cubs' Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge combined on a no-hitter.
Gonzales softly grounded to third, ending that threat, and the Pirates trailed 3-0. But Gonzales bounced back and brought in two runs with a single to right in the second inning after Jared Triolo, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan Reynolds had run-scoring hits.
Yasmani Grandal extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 6-3 in the third with a single to right off Jake Irvin (9-12), who gave up six runs, seven hits and four walks in five innings.
Triolo scored on a passed ball in the sixth. Eduardo Salazar replaced Joe La Sosa and walked Gonzales and Rowdy Tellez with the bases loaded.
Pirates starter Bailey Falter (7-7) worked five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, all coming in the first four at-bats of the game.
Aroldis Chapman got the final two outs, striking out one, with the bases loaded for his sixth save of the season after Joey Wentz allowed a single to Nasim Nuñez and two walks before hitting Andrés Chaparro to bring in a run in the ninth.
Juan Yepez put Washington ahead with an RBI double to right. Chaparro then sent Falter’s hanging curveball 419 feet into the left-field bleachers for a two-run homer, the third of his rookie season.
Pirates: Wentz was activated after being claimed off waivers from Detroit on Tuesday. RHP Domingo Germán was designated for assignment to make room on the 28-man active roster.
RHP Luis Ortiz (6-4, 3.19 ERA) will take the mound Friday for the Pirates, continuing the four-game series opposite Nationals rookie LHP DJ Herz (2-7, 4.09).
