Nats score early, hold on to beat Pirates 9-8
The Nationals won a game they tried to give away. They had a 4-run lead, twice, only to see Pittsburgh fight back each time. They eventually held on for the 9-8 win.
Cristian Guzman tied a career high with 6-RBI and Jon Rauch earned his 7th save of the season.
Post Game
With the win, the Nationals improve to 10-0 when they are leading after 8 innings.
This was the first win on a Saturday for the Nationals.
The Nats move to 1-game over .500, 9-8, with the win this afternoon.
Nats Offense Stars
Guzman: 4-5, HR(3), 6 RBI
Lopez: 2-3, 3 R
Kearns: 2-3, 2 BB, RBI
Final Box Score
Pirates 8-14-2
Nationals 9-14-1
WP-Colome (1-1)
LP-Maholm (2-3)
Sv-Rauch (7)
Locker Room Sounds
Cristian Guzman, who tied a career high with 6 RBI, spoke about his day and the win
Matt Chico, who didn't factor in the decision and was bailed out by his offense, talked about his sub-par performance.
In Game Updates
Game Saver?
With the bases loaded and 2-out in the bottom of the 8th, Aaron Boone hit a hard liner that looked like it would go into left field for a base hit. Third baseman Jose Bautista dove to his left and caught the ball for the final out. If he doesn't make that catch, the Nats put two more on the board and keep the inning alive.
Pirates 7th
The Pirates hit 3 consecutive singles, off Saul Rivera, to start the 7th, but could only manage to score one run. Jose Bautista's sac fly scored Jason Bay to make it 9-6.
Rivera struckout Ronnie Paulino and got pinch-hitter Doug Mientkiewicz to ground out to end the inning.
More Guzzzz-man
Cristian Guzman's bases clearing double gave the Nationals the 8-5 lead in the 6th. With 6 RBI on the day, Guzman matches a career high. He had 6 RBI on June 24, 2001 at Detroit, while playing for Minnesota.
Two batters later, Austin Kearns hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 9-5.
With 2-on and nobody out, Felipe Lopez hit a high fly to right that Xavier Nady lost in the sun, allowing the runners to advance. Lopez was credited with a single.
Maholm's line
What looked to be a short outing for Pirate pitcher Paul Maholm has turned into a decent day. He has settled down since the second inning, giving up one hit in the last 3 innings. After a 5-pitch 5th, his total is now at 93. After a single and walk, Maholm was pulled in the 6th. Here is his line:
5 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. 103 pitches, 58 strikes
Chico's line
Matt Chico couldn't hold onto a 5-1 lead and was pulled in the 5th after giving up two runs and leaving runners on the corners. Here is his line:
4 1/3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HB. 87 pitches, 51 strikes. He can't get the win, so he will remain winless on the season. The question for Manny Acta is, how much longer can he keep sending Chico out there?
Matt Chico may not have many more chances to redeem himself. Staked to a 5-1 lead after 2 innings, Chico couldn't hold the lead and he leaves the game after just 4 1/3 innings of work.
With 1-out in the 5th, the Pirates got 4 consecutive hits to chase Chico. Jesus Colome came in and gave up a hit Jose Bautista that tied the game at 5.
Chico won't get a decision, but he didn't help his cause to remain in the rotation. This was his 4th straight outing where he gave up 5 runs in 5 innings or less.
Homer Crazy
Joe Bautista has hit 4 home runs this year and three against the Nationals. As a matter of fact, he's hit all 3 in his last 6 plate appearances.
Bautista is 2-2, his first career hits off Matt Chico in 8 at-bats.
Nats 2nd inning
The Nationals sent 9 men to the plate in the 2nd and scored 3 more times to widen their lead to 5-1.
Cristian Guzman, Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge all had an RBI in the 2nd inning.
The Nats have 8 hits in the first two innings, 7 singles.
Paul Maholm is struggling. He's thrown 66 pitches in the first two frames.
Guzzzzz-man
Cristian Guzman hit his 3rd home run of the season, into the Pirate bullpen in left, to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Felipe Lopez led-off the inning with a bloop single to right center to get things started.
He added an RBI single in the 2nd.
Pitcher's through 2 innings
Matt Chico got himself into trouble in the 1st, but worked out of it. Chris Gomez doubled with one out and advanced to third on a fielders choice when Freddy Sanchez struckout. the ball got away from Paul LoDuca.
Chico then walked Jason Bay and hit Xavier Nady to load the bases. Adam LaRoche grounded out to second and Chico got away unscathed. He threw 23 pitches in the inning.
In the 2nd, Chico gave up an unearned run. Jose Bautista doubled and advanced to 3rd on a fielding error by Austin Kearns. Ronnie paulino grounded out to score Bautista.
Paul Maholm gave up a 2-run HR to Guzman in the 1st and if it wasn't for a great throw by LaRoche in right, to nail Aaron Boone trying to stretch a single into a double, the inning may still be going.
The 2nd wasn't any better. The Nationals batted around on Maholm. He gave up 4 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs. He's thrown 66 pitches already
Err-Uh
The Nationals commited their 3rd error in as many games today when Austin Kearns let a ball scoot through his legs. In the previous 5-games, the Nats played error-free baseball.
Starting Line-Up's
Pirates
CF Nate McLouth
SS Chris Gomez
2B Freddy Sanchez
LF Jason Bay
RF Xavier Nady
1B Adam LaRoche
3B Jose Bautista
C Ronny Paulino
P Paul Maholm
Nationals
2B Felipe Lopez
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Austin Kearns
1B Aaron Boone
C Paul LoDuca
LF Wily Mo Pena
P Matt Chico
Pitching Match-Up
Matt Chico (0-5, 6.68) looks to break a personal 5-game losing streak. In those games, Chico's best outing was an 8-inning, 1 run loss to the Braves on April 11. Since then, he hasn't made it out of the 5th and has given up at least 5 earned runs in each of his last 3 starts.
Chico is making his 3rd career start against the Pirates and he's given up just 2 earned runs in 13 innings, but no wins to show for it. His last outing against the Pirates, June 29th, he gave up 6-hits in 6 innings but no runs. Manny Acta would like to see a repeat performance.
Paul Maholm (2-2, 3.26) is coming off a complete game 2-hitter against the Phillies. He gave up 1-run in the 5-1 win last Sunday in Pittsburgh. Maholm has won his last two starts, giving up one run in each game.
In his career vs. Washington, 2 starts, Maholm is 0-1, with 4.05 ERA. Last season, against the Nationals, he gave up 3 earned runs on 9 hits in 7 innings in the Pirates 3-2 loss at PNC Park on July 1st.
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