The Pirates were shut out and had just two hits on Sunday, then had 10 runs and 14 hits on Monday. With new necklaces and an aggressive offensive approach, they hoped Monday would be the start of something different.
They reverted back to the former on Tuesday.
The Pirates were shut out for the second time in three games Tuesday at PNC Park, losing 3-0 to the Nationals on Jackie Robinson Day. They managed just four hits. Nationals starter Jake Irvin blanked Pittsburgh for seven innings, striking out six, before two relievers kept the Pirates off the board.
It took just six pitches for the Pirates (6-12) to fall behind. Left fielder James Wood led off the game with a towering 445-foot blast off of starter Mitch Keller, with the ball taking one bounce on the outfield concourse before ending up on the riverwalk.
Two more scored off of Keller in the sixth on a rally that started with a scare. A 92.7 mile-per-hour fastball slipped out of Keller’s hand and hit Nationals third baseman Paul DeJong in the face, sending DeJong to the floor. Every Pirate, including Keller, crouched on the field as DeJong was tended to.
Keller got within a strike of ending the inning without damage, but No. 9 hitter Nasim Nunez fouled off five pitches before scoring two on a broken-bat single to center field. The hit spoiled Keller’s outing, as he finished with a quality start of six innings, six hits, three runs, two walks and three strikeouts.
While he battled, the Pirate offense struggled to create any momentum whatsoever. Irvin, who entered with a 4.55 career ERA, put together one of the best starts of his major league career, shutting the Pirates out and allowing just three hits in seven innings. He struck out six.
Shoddy outfield defense gifted the Nationals (7-10) two baserunners in the top of the ninth inning, but lefty Tim Mayza got out of it without giving up a run. Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, earning his sixth save.
It was over when…
As has been one of the stories of the season, the Pirates showed little fight after falling behind. One of their best offensive opportunities came in the eighth inning when No. 9 hitter Henry Davis reached on a one-out single. Center fielder Oneil Cruz struck out, his third strikeout of the game, before designated hitter Bryan Reynolds hit a weak grounder to third for a fielder’s choice.
On the mound
Keller was decent, throwing six innings and keeping the Nationals from breaking the game open. As he did last week in a dominant no-decision against St. Louis, Keller pitched well enough to win if he’d gotten a few runs of support.
Relievers Ryan Borucki, Kyle Nicolas and Mayza all pitched scoreless innings in relief.
At the plate
Left fielder Jack Suwinski had two of the Pirates’ four hits. Right fielder Tommy Pham technically reached base in all three plate appearances — on an infield single, a walk and a fielder’s choice.
Two of the Pirates’ top hitters, Reynolds and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, had rough days at the plate. Both struck out twice while Kiner-Falefa also grounded into a double play.
Most valuable player
Irvin had given up multiple runs in his first three starts of the season, but dominated the Pirates Tuesday night. He threw a curveball 40 percent of the time, avoided hard contact and limited walks. He’s no Hunter Greene, but on a drizzly evening at PNC Park, he might as well have been.
Up next
The Pirates and Nationals will play the third game in their four-game series on Wednesday night at 6:40 p.m. Lefty Bailey Falter (0-2, 7.20 ERA) will start against Washington lefty Mitchell Parker (2-0, 1.96). The game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh and broadcast on the radio on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: April 16, 2025, 1:07 a.m.
Updated: April 16, 2025, 1:16 a.m.
