Game 30 Recap-
Washington Nationals 9-Pittsburgh Pirates 8
The Washington Nationals rode a huge day by SS Christian Guzman(4 hits, 6 rbi) to a 9-8 victory vs the Pittsburgh Pirates in DC Saturday afternoon. Guzman hit a 2 run homer in the 1st for the 1st runs of the game and the Nats never looked back. He added an rbi single in the 2nd and a big 3 run double in the 6th to add to his career day.
Pirates LH Paul Maholm drew the start and struggled early and often. Over his 5 innings of work, he was touched for 10 hits, 7 runs, walked 3, struck out 2 and allowed Guzman’s homer.
The Nationals SS got Maholm again with an rbi single in the 2nd, a fielders choice and CF Lastings Milledge rbi single made it 5-1.
Nationals starter, LH Matt Chico was also ineffective and gone after 4 1/3 innings. After Pittsburgh scored a single run in the 2nd on a ground out,3b Jose Bautista homered in the 4th to make it 5-2. The Pirates chased the young Washington starter with a 3 run inning, hi-lighted by rbi singles from both 1b Adam Laroche and Bautista.
Washington matched this rally and put the game out of reach with Guzman clearing the bases with a 3 run double and RF Austin Kearns driving him in with a single to make it 9-5. The Pirates did not quit and scored runs off of the Nationals bullpen in the 7th(Baustista sac fly) and 8th(2 run double by red hot RF Xavier Nady) to close the gap to one run. Nationals closer 6′11 RH Jon Rauch allowed a walk and steal in the 9th but retired two of the hottest Pirates in C Ryan Doumit(fly out) and CF Nate McLouth for the final outs and his 7th save.
Star of the Game-Guzman, who killed the Pirates all day with big, run producing hits
Pirates Notes-Nady was hit by a pitch in the head in the 3rd but was ok and did not miss anytime….SS Jack Wilson suffered what is being termed a setback in his rehab assignment. He was going to play with Double A Altoona but that has been moved back to late week
Next Game-
Sunday-1:35 PM-Nationals Park
Pirates RH Ian Snell(2-1) vs Nationals RH Tim Redding(3-2)
