The Nationals defeated the Pirates 6-3 at PNC Park Sunday afternoon, with Michael Morse leading the way with a three-run homer.
The Pirates scored only one run in the first, on an RBI single by Neil Walker, even though four runners reached base in the inning. The Nationals scored four in the third thanks to an RBI groundout by Adam LaRoche and Morse’s three-run shot.
The Pirates added two runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Chris Snyder and an RBI double by Ronny Cedeno to make it 4-3, but the Nationals got another run in the fifth with a solo homer by Adam LaRoche and another in the eighth with an RBI double by Laynce Nix. Andrew McCutchen reached base with one out in the ninth to make it interesting, and advanced all the way to third on two Nats errors. He made the final out of the game at home plate, however, after someone made the dubious decision to send him home in a three-run game when Jose Tabata flied out.
Pirates starter Kevin Correia allowed five runs in 4.2 innings. Winning pitcher Jason Marquis allowed three runs in six innings, then got three good innings of relief from Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen.