Falter, Palacios Lead Pirates to 5-1 Win Over Nationals

PITTSBURGH — Bailey Falter went 6.0 strong innings and Joshua Palacios connected on a two-run home run to help lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on Tuesday night.

Recap

Falter (2-8) earned his second win of the season after holding the Nationals to a lone run. The left-hander allowed four hits, walked only one and struck out six batters. Over his last three appearances, Falter has a 1.35 ERA (2er/13.1ip).

To help aid Falter’s efforts, Palacios connected on a 410-foot home run to straightaway-center in the second inning to give the Pirates (67-78) the first runs of the game.

Palacios was also responsible for throwing out a runner at home from right field. Ildemaro Vargas unsuccessfully attempted to score from right field on a Dominic Smith single in the seventh inning.

After the Nationals (65-80) cut the lead in half in the fourth, the Pirates struck for two in the home half of the fifth.

Miguel Andujar singled up the middle, plating Endy Rodriguez, and Bryan Reynolds plated a run with a groundout to second with the bases loaded.

Ke’Bryan Hayes gave the Pirates an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left center.

Key Moment 

Palacios’ homer gave Falter some wiggle room and ensured the Pirates led wire-to-wire.

Star of the Game

Thanks to his performance on Tuesday, Falter owns a 3.62 ERA since he was acquired by the Pirates at the trade deadline.

Stat to Know

• With two stolen bases, Hayes became the third Pirates’ third baseman since 1974 with 10+ homers and 10+ steals in a season, joining Phil Garner (1977) and Bill Madlock (1982).

Noteworthy

• Hayes is the fifth player this season to record 10+ stolen bases this season, joining Ji Hwan Bae, Andrew McCutchen, Reynolds and Jack Suwinski…This marks the first time since the 1997 season the Pirates have had 5+ players record 10 or more steals in a single season
• Bae extended his hitting streak to seven games with an automatic double down the left field line in the seventh.
• Hayes, Palacios Suwinski and Rodriguez all finished the game with multiple hits for the Pirates.
• Pittsburgh left the bases loaded four different innings and left a total of 15 runners on base.
• The Pirates became the first National League team this season to be intentionally walked four times in a single game.
• Prior to the start of the game, the Pirates added right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester to their taxi squad.
• Oneil Cruz, who has been out since early April after undergoing surgery for a left ankle fracture, will not return to the Pirates this season.

Up Next

The third game in this four-game series between the Pirates and Nationals will take place on Wednesday night. Neither club has announce their starting pitcher. First pitch: 6:35.