Starling Marte cracked a three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Pirates to a 4-1 win over the Nationals last night at PNC Park. Bryan Reynolds hit a sacrifice fly before Marte’s homer to tie the game at one-all. Adam Frazier and Colin Moran each had two hits for the Pirates and Felipe Vazquez picked up his third win, going one-and-a-third innings and striking out one.
Starting pitcher Chris Archer left during warm ups before the top of the second inning with discomfort in his throwing shoulder, with Clay Holmes doing a stellar job out of the bullpen. Holmes threw 3 and two-third innings of one-hit, one-run ball as the Bucs snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Pirates have reinstated Richard Rodriguez from the injured list. The right-hander has been out since August 9th with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. Montana DuRapau was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis. Jose Osuna was reinstated from suspension and started in right field. He was banned five games for his role in the July 30th benches-clearing brawl against the Reds. The Bucs will still be short-handed as Kyle Crick serves his three-game suspension for that brawl in Cincinnati. Last night was Crick’s first game out.
The Pirates will send Joe Musgrove to the mound tonight for game three of the four-game set. He’s 8-and-11 with a 4.59 ERA on the year, but he’s 0-for-August…Musgrove hasn’t won since July 30th. Patrick Corbin will take the mound for the Nationals. He’s 9-and-5 with a 3.34 ERA.
