PITTSBUGH (AP) – Bryan Reynolds hit his 23rd home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 10-7 on Saturday night.
© Provided by Associated Press
Bryan Reynolds, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the game on Saturday, September 11, 2021, against the Washington Nationals (AP Photo / Rebecca Droke)
Reynolds fired a two-run club between right and center field in the fifth inning and gave Pittsburgh the lead in the sixth when he walked a bases loaded walk off reliever Andrés Machado.
That walk was one of 10 issued by the sagging Nationals, who have lost 12 of 15 games.
Ben Gamel hit his seventh home run and his first in more than two months, in the fifth act. Colin Moran singled two and had four RBIs for Pittsburgh, which has won four of five games.
The Pirates left the game all but settled by a four-run cluster in the sixth inning. Three walks, including two by Panamanian Alberto Baldonado (0-1), filled the bases when there were two outs.
Reynolds gave Pittsburgh the lead when Machado walked him on five pitches. Moran’s infield single drove in Hoy Park to make the game 7-5.
Both Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes raced to the plate when second baseman Luis Garcia couldn’t control a powerful grounder from Gamel.
Kyle Keller (-1) pocketed the win as a reliever. Chris Stratton solved the ninth inning flawlessly to reach four saves.
For the Nationals, Venezuelans Alcides Escobar 5-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, Kiebert Ruiz 2-1 with three RBIs. Juan Soto from 5-4 with two runs scored and one produced. The Cuban Yadiel Hernández 5-1 with an RBI.
For the Pirates, Wilmer Difo 1-0. Puerto Rican Michael Pérez 3-0 with a run scored.
