This one was mercifully over before it began. Washington blasted Tyler Anderson for five runs in the first inning on the way to an 8-1 cakewalk against the Pirates. The loss was the Pirates’ ninth straight.
The Nationals started blistering Anderson’s pitches from the start, loading the bases with three line drive singles. After a strikeout, Josh Harrison looped a ball to right that slipped through Gregory Polanco’s glove. Then Yan Gomes belted a grand slam to make it 5-0.
But there’s always something to take comfort in. Anderson was able to complete six innings and save the Pirates’ bullpen, which is limited to nine relievers. He only gave up one more run so, success!
Of course, Anderson lasted that long because Derek Shelton let him bat in the fifth with the team six runs down. Not that it mattered to the outcome, especially not with the Pirates’ bench. It was just a chance for Shelton to show the white flag, which is rapidly becoming the team’s coat of arms. The Pirates supposedly want to show their fans that management wants to win, but if so, they’re doing it wrong.
Meanwhile, the Pirates’ hitters were facing Patrick Corbin, who’s having an awful season. And they were just what Corbin needed. He went eight and a third, allowing seven singles and a double. The Pirates helped out with an 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Their only run came in the seventh, when Phillip Evans doubled in Gregory Polanco.
Duane Underwood, Jr., threw the last two innings. He gave up two runs. Trea Turner had four hits for the Nationals and Jordy Mercer, playing third, had three. No Pirate shortstop has had a three-hit game all year.
