Pirates post season-high run total, blow out Nationals

Field Level Media|published: Mon 14th April, 21:46 2025

MLB: Washington Nationals at Pittsburgh Pirates

Apr 14, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (2) tags Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Bryan Reynolds (10) out at second base on a steal attempt during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Ke'Bryan Hayes and Enmanuel Valdez each had two hits and three RBIs as the host Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 10-3 on Monday night.

The Pirates posted season highs for runs and hits (14) while snapping a three-game losing streak.

Pittsburgh hitters went 8-for-10 with runners in scoring position and backed up ace Paul Skenes (2-1), who bounced back after giving up a career-worst five runs in his previous outing. Skenes lasted six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and no walks. He struck out six and threw 99 pitches.

The Pirates held a 5-0 through five innings, having chased Washington rookie starter Brad Lord (0-1) after 4 1/3 frames. Lord gave up four runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in 57 pitches.

The Nationals answered with two in the sixth and one more in the eighth to get within 5-3.

Nasim Nunez, who was called up from Triple-A Rochester in the wake of CJ Abrams landing on the 10-day injured list on Saturday, started at shortstop. He led the Nationals at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs. Keibert Ruiz, James Wood and Nathaniel Lowe each had an RBI.

Washington dropped its third in a row after the Pirates broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, the team's season high for runs in an inning.

Valdez went 2-for-2 with two walks. He started the scoring in the eighth inning with a double to drive in Bryan Reynolds, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Hayes, who also went 2-for-4, followed with an RBI single. Tommy Pham and Isiah Kiner-Falefa also had RBI singles in the inning.

With Washington trailing 5-0, Nunez led off the sixth with a double and advanced to third when Hayes committed an error -- one of four for the Pirates. Nunez scored on a fielder's-choice ground ball by Wood. Two batters later, Skenes made the second of two errors on pickoff attempts. Lowe drove in Wood with a single, but Skenes worked his way out of the jam by inducing a groundout from Josh Bell.

--Field Level Media