Nats take 3-0 lead in first over Pirates (Nats win 5-4)

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

August 15, 2014, 3:38pm

Comments

How's this for a statistic: The Nationals have scored 29 first-inning runs when Tanner Roark is on the mound.

Adam LaRoche got the party started tonight, his RBI single scoring Asdrubal Cabrera to stake the Nats to a 1-0 lead. Denard Span led off the frame with a single, Cabrera walked and Span was thrown out trying to steal third before Anthony Rendon's single to right put runners at first and second.

LaRoche followed with a single to center off Pirates righty Charlie Morton. Ian Desmond walked to load the bases and Bryce Harper dropped a single to right-center, scoring a pair. For those of you counting, that's six straight batters to reach off Morton to start the game. Wilson Ramos bounced into an inning-ending double play, but the Nats have a 3-0 lead after one inning.

Update: It's now 5-0 after three innings, after RBI singles by LaRoche and Ramos.

Cabrera singled to lead off the bottom half, Rendon walked and LaRoche delivered with a single to left. After Desmond grounded into a fielder's choice and Harper struck out swinging, Ramos singled for a 5-0 lead.

Update II: Pittsburgh is finally on the scoreboard. Starling Marte hit a two-run homer in the fourth after Neil Walker doubled to right with one down. Later, Pedro Alvarez's double to right-center plated Travis Snider from first. It's 5-3 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Morton is done for the night. He worked three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Update III: Roark exited in the sixth after allowing a two-out single to Snider. He was replaced by Jerry Blevins, who got a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Roark went 5 2/3 innings, yielding three runs on five hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. He threw 107 pitches, 68 for strikes.

Update IV: Alvarez's RBI single in the ninth off Rafael Soriano got the Pirates within a run, but that's where it ended. With runners on the corners and two outs, Soriano got Josh Harrison to pop foul to Ramos. The Nationals win 5-4.