Nats set offensive records galore in rout of Pirates (updated)

PITTSBURGH - The Nationals are built to win on the broad shoulders of their dominant rotation. Have been for years.

That does not mean this team is incapable of winning on the might of a deep and potent lineup, however, one capable on any given night of blasting an opposing pitching staff out of the park. Or, in this case, into the Allegheny River.

It happened last week, with three double-digit offensive explosions in four games against the Reds and Brewers. And it continued tonight during a 13-0 thrashing of the Pirates that was over before many in the already sparse crowd of 11,284 had taken a seat.

"Our lineup's pretty thick right now," manager Davey Martinez said.

Up seven runs before they even made an out in the top of the second, the Nationals never looked back against a Pittsburgh club in a 7-28 tailspin since the All-Star break.

The Nats pounced on starter Trevor Williams with three home runs in those first two frames, giving them a staggering 11 homers as a team over a span of 10 offensive innings. (They left the park eight times during Sunday's 16-8 win over Milwaukee.)

"I put a lot of emphasis on scoring first," Martinez said. "When we're on the road and come out in the first inning and score like that, that's big. It kind of settles everybody down. You can tell they start having fun, loosen up a little."

Adam Eaton got things started with his third homer in as many days, his fourth homer in his last five games. Matt Adams kicked off a huge night at the plate with his 20th homer, then a pair of RBI doubles that left him with eight total bases through four innings. Trea Turner launched a three-run homer to extend his streak of games reaching base to a career-high 26.

Even the foul balls were loud. Asdrúbal Cabrera sent a pair of drives on the wrong side of the right field foul pole, each of which left PNC Park altogether and bounced into the Allegheny River. (He would eventually launch a two-run homer onto the spiral ramp that sits well beyond the left field corner.)

"I'm just 10 days over here, and they've been doing it all season," said Cabrera, an early August addition who has fit right in. "It's fun when you're in the game and you try to have fun on the field."

Put this all together and you've got one of the most productive stretches this franchise - or most others - have ever delivered.

"We're capable of it," Eaton said. "You look top to bottom and you see the depth we have."

Here are the mindboggling numbers ...

* The Nationals have scored 43 runs in their last three games, most in the majors this season and one more than the club record they set during an April 2017 series at Coors Field.

* The Nationals have hit 16 home runs in their last three games, most in franchise history and tied with the Yankees for most in a three-game stretch in the majors this season.

* The Nationals have scored 62 runs in their last five games, most in franchise history and most in the majors since the Yankees scored 63 runs in 2007.

It has been a stunning display of offensive might from a team that has certainly proven capable of the occasional outburst from time to time, but never quite like this.

"It's really hard to explain," Martinez said. "You've got to have everybody in your lineup really swinging the bat. And they're doing that right now."

Tonight's romp did come with a caveat, against a Pirates team that looks like it would rather be anywhere other than this ballpark, picturesque vista or not. But these Nationals have done well this summer to beat up on bad teams, and tonight was merely the latest example.

The only bad news to come out of this game: Joe Ross departed with one out in the bottom of the fourth after taking a 110-mph comebacker off his right shin. Ross, who continued his recent resurgence with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, spoke at length with Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard before walking back to the dugout with no assistance.

X-rays came back negative, but Ross's lower leg was sore and bandaged after the game.

"I wish I could've stayed in the game, but it wasn't looking very likely," the right-hander said. "He asked if I wanted to throw. I said it was getting tight, so I didn't think it was probably going to be for the best. We'll see how it is tomorrow."

The Nationals have a decision to make soon with Max Scherzer set to return from the injured list Thursday, and either Ross or Erick Fedde expected to lose his spot in the rotation. Ross' health status could now play a factor in that decision.

Even with tonight's early departure, the Nats suffered not a whit. Javy Guerra, only two nights after throwing 50 pitches over the final three frames of a 14-inning marathon loss, threw 43 pitches over 3 1/3 perfect innings in emergency relief of Ross. Kyle McGowin, who threw 42 pitches in two innings of relief Sunday, returned to pitch a scoreless eighth tonight.

"What Javy has done has been incredible," Martinez said, offering unprompted praise to his veteran long reliever. "He picked us up huge today when Ross went down. I think he's thrown almost 100 pitches the last (three) days. I tip my hat to him, because without him we would have been deep into our bullpen."

🏹🏹🏹 pic.twitter.com/uJjFfSQzoS

-- Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) August 19, 2019