The Washington Nationals finally got their bats going again on Tuesday night. They were down most of the game to the Pittsburgh Pirates but were able to rally in the 9th as they won the game 7-6. They upped their record to 26-40 on the season.
Tim Redding started the game on the mound for the Nationals but really struggled to keep the Pirate bats silent. He lasted six innings but gave up eight hits and four runs while giving up a pair of home runs. He didn’t factor in the decision. Joel Hanrahan got the win as he got two outs in the 8th inning without incident. Jon Rauch threw a perfect ninth to pick up his 13th save of the year.
Needless to say, it’s a lot easier to put some runs on the board when you’re able to hit them over the fence. The Nationals were helped a great deal by hitting five home runs against Pittsburgh pitching. Ronnie Belliard hit a pair of solo shots, and Dmitri Young and Jesus Flores also hit solo homers for Washington. The biggest blow of the game came in the ninth inning on a Lastings Milledge two run homer that gave the Nationals a 7-6 lead.
The Pirates and Nationals will play again on Wednesday. John Lannan, one of the Nats better pitchers, will get the start on Wednesday.