The Panamanian veteran pitcher Paolo Espino Obtained his first major league win At age 34, Josh Bell hit a two-run homer off his former team and the Nationals Washington beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Wednesday night to sweep the series to three games.
Espino (1-2) allowed three hits in five scoreless innings. He struck out two and walked one. He had to wait 15 years since he was signed in the Draft, to make your dream come true and win your first match in the top flight of world baseball. Washington has won four games in a row, tying its longest streak of the season. The Pirates reached 10 consecutive losses.
Max Scherzer (groin) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday. The Nationals debated who to use in the rotation before picking Espino, who made the fifth start of his major league career.
Brad Hand retired the last five outs, allowing consecutive two-out singles in the ninth inning before making his 13th save.
Yan Gomes hit his seventh home run of the season in the second inning off Chase De Jong (0-1). Bell posted a 1-0 fastball into the right-center bleachers for his ninth homer of the season to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead in the seventh inning.
Bryan Reynolds drove in Ke’Bryan Hayes with a single in the eighth for the Pirates’ only run.
For the Nationals, Brazilian Yan Gomes 4-2 with one RBI and one scored. The Dominicans Juan Soto 4-1 with a run scored; Victor Robles 4-0; Luis García 4-1. The Panamanian Paolo Espino 1-0. For the Pirates, the Dominicans Gregory Polanco 4-1; Erik González from 1-1. Puerto Rican Michael Pérez 2-0.
The Associated Press
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