Treinen solid early, Desmond homers to tie game (Nats lose 3-1)

Rookie Blake Treinen has been solid thus far in his second major league start, but he did come a little undone in the third inning. Treinen matched Pirates starter Edinson Volquez at the outset, retiring the first eight batters of the game. But he then ran into trouble. Treinen walked Volquez with two outs in the third. Josh Harrison then singled for the Pirates' first hit of the game and Neil Walker walked to load the bases. The Nats right-hander followed by plunking Andrew McCutchen, bringing Volquez home from third for a 1-0 Pittsburgh lead. Treinen has now allowed one run on one hit and two walks through three frames, throwing 48 pitches, 31 for strikes. The Nationals answered right away, drawing even at 1-1 when Ian Desmond led off the fourth with his eighth homer. That gives Desmond four homers and nine RBIs in his last 10 games. Update: The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Harrison drew a leadoff walk, moved up to second on Walker's fly ball and scored on McCutchen's RBI single to center. McCutchen has driven in both of Pittsburgh's runs so far. Treinen has now allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out three in five frames. Volquez has answered by holding the Nats to one run on three hits and two walks in five innings. He has struck out two. The Nats haven't been short on chances, but have left five men on base and are 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Update II: Treinen's night came to a close with runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth, and Aaron Barrett came on to end the threat by getting Harrison to ground out. Treinen finished with two earned runs on three hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and threw 102 pitches, 63 for strikes. His ERA climbed from 0.77 to 1.56. The Nats still trail 2-1 as this one heads to the seventh. Update III: The Nats threatened in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs. But Scott Hairston popped out to short to end the inning. The Nats are still down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth. Barrett pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings before Ross Detwiler entered in relief. Update IV: The Pirates added a crucial insurance run on Harrison's RBI single in the eighth, putting the Nats down 3-1 heading to the ninth. Update V: The Nats tested Pirates closer Mark Melancon in the ninth, putting two on with two out. But Anthony Rendon lined out to McCutchen, who made an exceptional sliding catch in center to end the game. The Pirates won 3-1 as Treinen took the loss, falling to 0-2 despite a good performance. The Nats absorbed their second straight loss and third in four games to slip to 24-23 on the season.