Pirates pounce on shaky Nationals bullpen in 10-7 victory

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit his 23rd home run of the season and drove in three runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates surged past the Washington Nationals 10-7 on Saturday.

Reynolds hit a two-run shot to right-center field in the fifth and gave Pittsburgh the lead in the sixth when he worked a bases-loaded walk against Washington reliever Andres Machado. The walk was one of 10 issued by the struggling Nationals, who have dropped 12 of 15.

Ben Gamel hit his seventh home run — and first in more than two months — in the fifth. Colin Moran singled twice and drove in four runs for Pittsburgh, which was won four of five.

The last-place Pirates have also won nine games this season when trailing by three runs or more, tied with Milwaukee for the most in the National League.

“That's just kind of who we are as guys,” Reynolds said. “We never think we're out of it.”

The Pirates broke it up with a four-run sixth. Three walks — two of them by Alberto Baldonado (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs and Reynolds gave Pittsburgh the lead when Machado walked him on five pitches. Moran's infield single scored Hoy Park to make it 7-5 and Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes raced home when Washington second baseman Luis Garcia mishandled a sharp grounder by Gamel.

“Just trying to get good pitches to hit, and if it wasn't there, just taking our walks and giving it to the next guy,” Reynolds said. “That's what we're doing tonight and it worked out well.”

Kyle Keller (1-1) earned the victory in relief of starter Wil Crowe. Chris Stratton worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Juan Soto went 4 for 5 — all singles — for Washington. Josh Bell added two hits in his second game back at PNC Park after being traded from Pittsburgh to the Nationals last December. Ryan Zimmerman hit a pinch-hit home...

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