Pirates erupt late to knock off Nationals

Field Level Media|published: Sun 5th July, 17:03 2026

Jul 5, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals designated hitter Jose Tena (8) slides under the tag of Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) to steal second base during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Konnor Griffin's two-run single in the eighth inning provided the go-ahead runs as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates recorded an 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

Brandon Lowe hit a three-run homer and Bryan Reynolds added a solo shot. Nick Gonzales had three hits for the Pirates.

Gregory Soto (5-2) earned the win in relief, allowing one hit, one run and one walk while striking out two over two innings.

Luis Garcia Jr. was 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and Dylan Crews added a solo shot. Jose Tena and Keibert Ruiz each had two hits for Washington.

The Pirates broke a 4-4 tie with a five-run eighth. With one out, Endy Rodriguez and Jared Triolo singled, and Jake Mangum walked to load the bases. Griffin's single drove in pinch-runner Henry Davis and Triolo for a 6-4 lead.

Lowe's homer off Brad Lord (5-2) plated Mangum and Griffin to blow the game open.

Earlier, in the second, Ryan O'Hearn coaxed a leadoff walk before Gonzales singled. Both runners moved up a base on Rodriguez's groundout to first. Tyler Callihan's two-run single gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Washington starter Cade Cavalli's pickoff throw sailed wide of first and Callihan advanced to third on the two-base error. Pittsburgh led 3-0 on Mangum's opposite-field RBI single.

Pittsburgh extended its lead to 4-0 in the third on Reynolds' blast to center.

The Nationals cut their deficit to 4-2 on Garcia's two-run homer in the third.

Washington pulled within 4-3 in the fourth on Jorbit Vivas' RBI groundout to first.

After James Wood started the fifth with a walk, Garcia singled and Curtis Mead walked before Mason Montgomery relieved Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler. Griffin made a diving catch on CJ Abrams' blooper into shallow left, but Wood tagged up and tied the game at 4-4 by beating the throw to the plate.

Later, in the eighth, Crews' solo shot cut the Pirates' lead to 9-5.

Davis' two-run single in the ninth knocked in O'Hearn and Gonzales.

Cavalli allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Chandler gave up four runs on six hits with four walks over four innings.

--Field Level Media

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