There goes the no-hitter... and the shutout

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

May 17, 2012, 5:13pm

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Remember when James McDonald had a no-hitter through five innings? That seems so long ago. McDonald, who had a perfect game through four innings and had struck out 10 through five, had a disastrous sixth inning, allowing three runs on four hits. He got pulled from the game with two outs in the sixth, ending an outing which had started in dominating fashion. Jesus Flores was the one to get it all rolling for the Nationals, with his leadoff double in the sixth breaking up McDonald's no-no and setting the table for what was to come. Pinch hitter Steve Lombardozzi followed with a double to center, and Ryan Zimmerman plated both guys with a big two-out, opposite-field knock. The two-run single cut the Pirates' lead to 4-2 and finally got Zimmerman into double digits in the RBI category for the season. It also marked his first multiple-RBI game since April 16. Adam LaRoche then smoked a triple to left, making it a 4-3 game. It was LaRoche's first triple since August 3, 2010, and ironically, that triple came against the Nats. The Pirates countered by adding an insurance run in the seventh off Craig Stammen, and now lead 5-3 as we go to the bottom of the seventh.