Nationals Rally To Beat Bucs
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WASHINGTON -- Patrick Corbin matched a career high with 12 strikeouts, Yadiel Hernandez delivered a go-ahead two-run double, and the Washington Nationals rallied in the eighth inning for the second straight game, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Tuesday night.
Corbin (4-10) allowed one run in eight innings for Washington, which has won three in a row and six of eight.
"I know I can still do it," the 32-year-old Corbin said. "My stuff is still there. Sometimes, and I don't know the reason, things haven't clicked. I thought today when I did make a couple mistakes, they either fouled it off or maybe just took it."
Pittsburgh has lost five in a row by a combined seven runs.
"We're one play away, and right now the people we're playing are making that play and we have to create our own breaks," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton, whose team is 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in the last two games.
The Nationals also sputtered with runners in scoring position much of the game, going hitless in their first eight attempts before Hernandez pinch hit against former Washington prospect Wil Crowe (3-5) with two on and two outs in the eighth. Hernandez hit a shot over Diego Castillo in right, scoring both runners.
"I threw (44) pitches and I think I threw one bad one that I'd want to take back, and it's that one," Crowe said.
Washington was 2 for 22 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series and won both. The other hit was Maikel Franco's two-run homer in the eighth in Monday's 3-2 win.
Even without the late rally, it was an encouraging night for the Nationals solely because of Corbin's outing. The veteran yielded Castillo's solo homer in the sixth, but was otherwise far sharper than he's been for much of the last three seasons. He allowed five hits and walked two.
Corbin, who hadn't posted a double-digit strikeout game since 2019, struck out the side in the eighth to finish his night. It was the third time he struck out 12 in a regular-season game and the first since June 22, 2018, at Pittsburgh. Corbin also struck out 12 in Game 4 of the 2019 NLCS against St. Louis.
The left-hander, who signed a six-year, $140 million deal with Washington before the 2019 season, lowered his ERA more than a half-run from 6.60 to 6.06.
"I've been feeling really good, and the results (have been) some ups and downs," Corbin said. "I thought today I was able to stay on the attack and able to use both sides of the plate. The slider was good."
Tanner Rainey worked the ninth for his 11th save in 14 attempts.
The Nationals pushed across a run in the first on Nelson Cruz's groundout. It was all they would get against Pittsburgh starter Jose Quintana, who allowed four hits and struck out six in six innings in the first start of his 11-year career in Washington.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Pittsburgh recalled LHP Aaron Fletcher from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Miguel Yajure to Indianapolis. ... RHP David Bednar (lower back) was not available. "We hope it's not an IL situation," Shelton said. "We think he should be back in the coming days." ... RHP Zach Thompson (forearm nerve inflammation) threw live batting practice. Shelton said Thompson is on track to be activated Sunday.
Nationals: SS Luis García was out of the lineup for the first time since his June 1 callup, but entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth. "He's been playing well and he's been playing a lot," manager Dave Martinez said. "You have to remember, he played every day in Triple-A before he got here." ... LHP Josh Rogers (shoulder impingement) will begin his rehabilitation assignment Thursday at Triple-A Rochester. ... Martinez said RHP Victor Arano (knee inflammation) felt good a day after a light bullpen session.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (2-5, 4.77 ERA), who is 1-0 with a 2.96 ERA in five starts since rejoining the rotation May 31, gets the nod in the series finale.
Nationals: RHP Paolo Espino (0-1, 2.21) has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings and posted a 0.46 WHIP in three career appearances against Pittsburgh.
ASTROS 9, METS 1
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kyle Tucker had a three-run homer and a stolen base, Yordan Alvarez hit his 23rd home run and Framber Valdez pitched a gem to lift the Houston Astros over the New York Mets 9-1 Tuesday night.
Alvarez reached base five times, Yuli Gurriel also homered and Alex Bregman had three hits as Houston beat the Mets for the third time in a week.
Valdez (8-3) allowed six hits over eight scoreless innings, striking out four and inducing a bevy of groundball outs.
Carlos Carrasco (8-4) had a second straight rocky outing against Houston, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings on six hits and three walks.
BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Matt Olson homered twice, Travis d'Arnaud also connected and Atlanta beat Philadelphia.
Olson had his second two-homer game this season and the 13th of his career. He broke a 3-all tie in the eighth with his second homer, driving an 86 mph slider from Andrew Bellatti (1-3) out to right.
A.J. Minter, filling in for injured closer Kenley Jansen, pitched a perfect ninth for first save in his third chance. Collin McHugh (1-1) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Kyle Schwarber stayed red-hot in June with a home run for Philadelphia.
YANKEES 2, ATHLETICS 1
NEW YORK (AP) -- JP Sears stretched his big league scoreless streak to 12 2/3 innings and won his second spot start, pitching New York over Oakland for its 15th win in 19 games.
Sears (3-0) limited the A's to three hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out one and walked one.
Josh Donaldson backed him with an RBI double in the first off trade candidate Frankie Montas (3-8), and Marwin Gonzalez homered in the second.
Clay Holmes allowed an RBI single to Elvis Andrus but stranded two runners to get his 13th save in 14 chances.
BLUE JAYS 6, RED SOX 5
TORONTO (AP) -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a game-ending single in the ninth inning to complete Toronto's rally over Boston.
The Blue Jays trailed 5-4 when pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk singled to begin the ninth against Tyler Danish (2-1). Hansel Robles gave up Bo Bichette's tying RBI single, and Guerrero followed with his base hit. The blown save was Robles' fifth.
Jordan Romano (2-2) worked the ninth as Toronto improved to 7-2 against the Red Sox.
Boston lost back-to-back games for the first time since May 30-31.
GUARDIANS 3, TWINS 2, GAME 1
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Amed Rosario's clutch two-run single in the eighth inning rallied Cleveland past Minnesota in the first game of a doubleheader, snapping the Guardians' five-game losing streak.
Down 2-1, the Guardians came back against reliever Emilio Pagan (1-3), who walked Myles Straw and rookie Steven Kwan before facing Rosario. Cleveland's shortstop then slapped a 3-2 pitch through the middle.
Carlos Correa's homer leading off the eighth against Sam Hentges (2-0) had given the Twins a 2-1 lead.
Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 tries.
TWINS 6, GUARDIANS 0, GAME 2
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jorge Polanco drove in three runs in his first game back from the injured list, rookie Josh Winder pitched six stellar innings, and Minnesota split a doubleheader with Cleveland.
Polanco came off an IL stint for lower back tightness between games and cracked a two-run homer in the third inning off rookie Konnor Pilkington (1-1) as the Twins restored their lead in the AL Central to three games over the Guardians.
Byron Buxton hit his 20th homer and Jose Miranda also connected for the Twins.
Winder (3-2) was brought up as the club's 27th man for the doubleheader and excelled in just his fourth major league start and first since May 27. Tyler Duffy (one inning) and Jovani Moran (two) completed the combined five-hit shutout.
BREWERS 5, RAYS 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 over five innings in his return from the injured list, Andrew McCutchen and Luis Urías homered during a four-run sixth, and Milwaukee beat Tampa Bay.
Woodruff (6-3) allowed one run and two hits.
Matt Wisler (2-2) replaced Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz with one on and two outs in the sixth, and it took eight pitches for the Brewers to turn a one-run deficit into to a 4-1 lead.
Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances.
CARDINALS 5, MARLINS 3
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Dylan Carlson drove in a pair of runs and the St. Louis bullpen held Miami scoreless over four innings.
Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson (6-4) went five-plus innings, allowing three runs. He was lifted after issuing a leadoff walk to Jorge Soler in the sixth.
Junior Fernandez pitched two innings, Giovanny Gallegos worked the eighth and Ryan Helsley struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save in eight opportunities.
The Cardinals knocked Braxton Garrett (1-3) out of the game during a four-run fifth.