Another Error by Oneil Cruz Allows Nationals to Edge Pirates 4-3
Center fielder Oneil Cruz’s 11th error of the season allowed the Washington Nationals to score the winning run in the eighth inning as they rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday at Nationals Park in Washington.
The Pirates (65-85) lost two of three games against the Nationals (62-87) and have dropped eight of their nine games overall.
The Nationals snapped a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning when James Wood drew a leadoff walk from Issac Mattson (4-2) and Lile hit a double. Wood scored when Cruz allowed the ball to roll under his glove.
Cruz has committed the most errors by a Pirates outfielder in a single season since Hall of Famer Dave Parker made 15 in 1979.
The Pirates put runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth inning, but rookie Clayton Beeter struck out Bryan Reynolds for his first career save.
Cruz went 2 for 3 for the Pirates with a double, a walk, and a stolen base.
Rookie Mike Burrows started for the Pirates and lasted 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked one.
The Pirates jumped on Cade Cavalli for three runs in the first inning but never scored again. Nick Gonzales hit a two-run triple and scored on a wild pitch by Cavalli, who gave up three runs in five innings.
The Nationals tied it with a three-run second. Paul DeJong doubled in a run, Nasim Nunez hit a sacrifice fly, and Jacob Young had an RBI single.
Jackson Rutledge (4-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.
The Pirates begin their final homestand of the season at 6:40 p.m. Monday with the opener of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.47) will start for the Pirates against ex-Pirate Jameson Taillon (9-6, 4.15).
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