Moore makes the Bucs pay (Nats win 6-2)

PITTSBURGH - Given the way Adam LaRoche has been swinging the bat the last few days, and the way Tyler Moore has struggled to put the bat on the ball the last couple days, you can't really blame the Pirates for intentionally walking LaRoche to get to Moore with first base open in the top of the eighth inning. Just like yesterday, Moore was off to a rough start today, striking out in all three at-bats this afternoon, all three looking. But after falling behind in the count 0-2 with two runners on and one out in the eighth, Moore worked the count even and then crushed a Bryan Morris slider way out to left for a three-run homer. It was Moore's first homer of the season, and it gives the Nationals a 6-2 lead in the eighth. Moore entered the at-bat having struck out five times in his last six plate appearances. He struck out twice with the bases loaded yesterday before coming through with a big sac fly in the ninth that brought in the game-winning run. Today, Moore saw LaRoche get intentionally walked, then he got a pitch he could handle and didn't miss it. Tyler Clippard comes on to work the bottom of the eighth with the Nationals six outs from a series win in the Steel City. Update: Clippard worked a perfect eighth and despite it not being a save situation, Rafael Soriano finished things off in the ninth, wrapping up a 6-2 Nationals win. Moore and Danny Espinosa combined to record all six Nats RBIs and Gio Gonzalez gets his third win of the season. The Nats take two of three in Pittsburgh and head home with a winning roadtrip, having taken four of seven from the Pirates and Braves.