5-Run 1st Inning Powers Pirates Past Nationals
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped out to an early lead over the Washington Nationals and never looked back Saturday night at PNC Park.
After a rain delay of just over an hour, the Pirates (9-11) scored five runs in the first inning en route to a 7-2 victory.
Andrew McCutchen led off the first inning with a single and Jose Tabata followed with a double. Lyle Overbay's infield single brought McCutchen home and put the Pirates up 1-0.
After Neil Walker struck out, Garrett Jones doubled to right field, which allowed Tabata to score and moved Overbay to third base.
Ryan Doumit was up next and his single to right field made it 3-0.
Jones would scored on a ground out by Pedro Alvarez and Ronny Cedeno's single to left field allowed Doumit to score, to extend the lead to 5-0.
The Nationals (9-10) got one run back in the top of the second inning on Michael Morse's RBI single to right field.
However, the Pirates answered right back in their half of the second inning.
McCutchen walked to lead off the inning. He stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error. Tabata's sacrifice fly allowed McCutchen to score for the second time in the game.
Jayson Werth's home run in the top of the fourth cut the lead to 6-2, but it would be as close as the Nationals would come.
Overbay's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning would cap the scoring in the game.
Jeff Karstens (2-0, 3.94 ERA) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three and walking just one over six innings.
He also threw 51 of his 85 pitches for strikes.
For Washington, Livan Hernandez (2-2, 3.48 ERA) allowed seven runs on nine hits while walking four and striking out two in six innings of work. Only four of the runs he allowed were earned.
The teams will play the second game of their series Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m.
The probable pitching matchup features Jason Marquis (1-0, 3.26 ERA) taking on Kevin Correia (3-1, 2.48 ERA).
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