Nats bats quiet in 3-1 loss

By Josh Land

Nationals

July 26, 2015, 10:32am

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PITTSBURGH - Michael A. Taylor crushed a 1-0 fastball from Pirates starter Gerrit Cole over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run with two outs in the third. Taylor has now homered in consecutive games. The rookie has six hits and four RBIs in the series.

The Pirates answered in the bottom of the frame with RBI singles from Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen.

Right-hander Joe Ross has allowed two runs on four hits with one walk, one hit batter and four strikeouts through three innings.

Update: Ross gave up his first homer in the majors on Neil Walker's solo shot in the fourth.

Update II: A double from Clint Robinson followed by a single from Ian Desmond set the Nats up for a prime scoring opportunity with one out in the seventh. But Cole got Wilson Ramos to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Ross allowed three runs on five hits with one walk, one hit batter and seven strikeouts over six innings. He threw 78 pitches.

Left-hander Matt Thornton pitched a perfect seventh in relief.

Anthony Rendon smoked a pinch-hit single up the middle with one out in the eighth.

Update III: Pirates closer Mark Melancon picked up his National League-leading 32nd save, retiring the Nationals in order in the ninth.

The Pirates beat the Nats 3-1 to take the series.