North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates added another to the win column today, defeating the Nationals 7-4. The game started in rain delay, but that was unable to cool the Pirates bats.
The Pirates hung a four spot on the Nationals to start the game. After loading the bases Jack Suwinski hit a sac fly. Connor Joe re-loaded after a walk Rowdy Tellez added a 2-Rbi single followed by a Henry Davis sacrifice-fly. The Pirates added a 5th run in the top of the 2nd on a Bryan Reynolds RBI single after a Michael A. Taylor double.

The Nationals got one back off of Perez in the bottom of the second to cut the score to 5-1. The Pirates answered back in the 5th, after a Suwinski walk Connor Joe hit a 400 foot bomb to give the Pirates a 7-1 lead. In the bottom of the frame CJ Abrams hit his own homerun over 400 feet to cut the lead to 7-2.
In the bottom of the sixth the Nationals looked to grab a few more back with some two out magic. However, Perez was able to induce a double play to end the inning. Luis Ortiz followed Perez, getting tagged for one run in the bottom of the either after two got on base and he gave up a foul line skirting hit to score one. This was followed by a hard hit ball Jared Triolo was unable to handle, scoring another, and bring Adrolis Chapman into the game. The “Milk Man” delivered striking out Jacob Young to end the 8th inning threat. The Pirates bats could not add further in the Top of the 9th, David Bednar came into the game for the save opportunity. While the umpires did not not help him with the suddenly accurate strike zone, Bednar was able to close it out for his first save, and the Pirates sixth win.

The Pirates return to action tomorrow, for their home opener, against the Baltimore Orioles. The game will be at 4:12 PM at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. Jared Jones will pitch for the Pirates with Grayson Rodriguez going for the Orioles.