Game 29 Recap-
Pittsburgh Pirates 11- Washington Nationals 4
The Pittsburgh Pirates used a 6 run 3rd inning and great work from the relief corps as they won big at Nationals Park in DC, 11-4. The offense was led by 3b Jose Bautista’s 2 for 4 night with 2 homers and 4 rbi. The bullpen carried Pirates young swing starter, LH Phil Dumatrait, who lasted 4 innings, gaving up 6 hits and 4 runs while walking 1 and striking out 4. Led by winner LH RP Damaso Marte’s 2 innings(no hits, strike out) the pen pitched 5 shut out innings and Marte earned his 2nd win of the season.
The Pirates offense erupted for 6 runs in the 3rd and never looked back. C Ryan Doumit(.366 average) and RF Xavier Nady had rbi singles to make it 2-0. After a 1b Doug Mientkiewicz fielders choice netted another run, Bautista hit a 3 run bomb and it was quickly 6-0.Young Nationals LH John Lannan took the brunt of this onslaught and ended the night with 3 innings of work, 6 hits, 6 runs(5 earned) and walked 2. The Nationals got a single run in the bottom of the inning. Doumit answered with another rbi single and the lead was 6 again at 7-1.
Washington came to life in the 3 and erupted for 3 runs, on a sac fly and C Wil Nieves 2 run double. The Pirates really put the game away with Bautista homering again in the 5th, super sub Chris Gomez’ 2 rbi double(7th) and LF Jason Bay’s double making it 11-4 in the 8th.
Star of the Game-Bautista 2 homers and 4 rbis– showing signs of life last 10 days or so. Good sign with CF Nate McLouth, Nady,Bay and Doumit all hitting.
Co-star of the game-Pirates Pen- 5 innings of zeros— led by winner Marte, LH John Grabow,RH Tyler Yates and closer RH Matt Capps all contributed
Pirates Notes- McLouth was on base 3 times(2 hits, walk) and scored 3 runs….. This was Bautista’s 2nd career 2 homer game, happened previously vs the Astros in Houston, August 25,2007
Next Game-
Saturday-Nationals Park-Washington- 1:05
Pirates LH Paul Maholm(2-2) vs Nationals LH Matt Chico(0-5)
