GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (25-33) at WASHINGTON (23-35)

Nationals top Pirates in wild affair

<h3>WASHINGTON 6, PITTSBURGH 5</h3>WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Salomon Torres' wild pitch with two outsscored Austin Kearns with the winning run in the bottom of theninth as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates,6-5, on Wednesday.

Entering the ninth inning with the game tied at 5-5, Torres(0-3) struck out leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez.

Cristian Guzman singled to right, Ryan Zimmerman reached on aninfield hit and pinch hitter Ronnie Belliard struck out. AustinKearns walked to load the bases and on a 2-1 count, Torresuncorked the wild pitch.

Chad Cordero (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Heading into the top of the eighth inning, the Nationals had a5-1 lead, but the Pirates tied the score with a four-run frame.

Jose Bautista led off with a walk off reliever Jon Rauch. Hemoved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single byFreddy Sanchez. Bautista scored on a sacrifice fly by JasonBay.

After Ronny Paulino singled, lefthander Billy Traber replacedRauch and allowed a first-pitch three-run homer to center fieldby Adam LaRoche, his seventh of the season.

Leading 2-1, the Nationals scored three runs off Pirates starterZach Duke.

Zimmeran walked with one out and Dmitri Young, who had threehits, singled and Kearns walked to load the bases. Churchgrounded what appeared to be a double play ball to shortstopJack Wilson, who booted it for an error. Zimmerman scored andSchneider singled to center, driving home Young and Kearns for a5-1 lead.

Duke allowed five runs - four earned in six innings - and haswon just once in his last 11 starts.

In the Nationals' first inning, Guzman singled with one out.Zimmerman hit into a fielder's choice. He took third on Young'ssingle and scored on Kearns' double.

Pittsburgh tied the score in the second off starter Micah Bowiewhen Xavier Nady led off with a walk and scored on Ryan Doumit'sdouble. Nady left the game with left hamstring tightness.

Bowie pitched five-plus innings, allowing two hits - both toDoumit - and one run. He walked five and struck out five.

 

Nationals top Pirates in wild affair

<h3>WASHINGTON 6, PITTSBURGH 5</h3>WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Salomon Torres' wild pitch with two outsscored Austin Kearns with the winning run in the bottom of theninth as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates,6-5, on Wednesday.

Entering the ninth inning with the game tied at 5-5, Torres(0-3) struck out leadoff hitter Felipe Lopez.

Cristian Guzman singled to right, Ryan Zimmerman reached on aninfield hit and pinch hitter Ronnie Belliard struck out. AustinKearns walked to load the bases, and on a 2-1 count, Torresuncorked the wild pitch.

"It was a split-finger (fastball). I could have been out of theinning," Torres said.

Guzman was watching Torres carefully.

"He threw a lot of splits and all the splits he threw, he threwin the dirt," Guzman said. "I told the third base coach, 'Watchhis hand. If he throws it again, I'm going to go home.'"

Torres, who lost his job as closer this week after blowing hisfifth save of the season, was unapologetic about the wild pitch.

"I kept the ball down. There's nothing I could have donedifferently," he said. "Unfortunately, that split-fingerfastball got a little bit of sink toward our dugout - and youknow what happened."

Chad Cordero (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Heading into the top of the eighth inning, the Nationals had a5-1 lead, but the Pirates tied the score with a four-run frame.

Jose Bautista led off with a walk off reliever Jon Rauch. Hemoved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single byFreddy Sanchez. Bautista scored on a sacrifice fly by JasonBay.

After Ronny Paulino singled, lefthander Billy Traber replacedRauch and allowed a first-pitch three-run homer to center fieldby Adam LaRoche, his seventh of the season.

"We did a great job getting back into the game," Pittsburghmanager Jim Tracy said. "Unfortunately, the bottom of the ninthdidn't work out so well for us."

Leading, 2-1, the Nationals scored three runs off Piratesstarter Zach Duke.

Zimmeran walked with one out and Dmitri Young, who had threehits, singled and Kearns walked to load the bases. Churchgrounded what appeared to be a double-play ball to shortstopJack Wilson, who booted it for an error. Zimmerman scored andBrian Schneider singled to center, driving home Young and Kearnsfor a 5-1 lead.

"It was very important to win it because of what we're goingthrough right now - blowing the four-run lead," Washingtonmanager Manny Acta said.

The Nationals broke a three-game losing streak with the win.

"Our team has shown a lot of character, but this would have beena discouraging loss," Acta said.

Duke allowed five runs - four earned in six innings - and haswon just once in his last 11 starts.

In the Nationals' first inning, Guzman singled with one out.Zimmerman hit into a fielder's choice and took third on Young'ssingle before scoring on Kearns' double.

Pittsburgh tied the score in the second off starter Micah Bowiewhen Xavier Nady led off with a walk and scored on Ryan Doumit'sdouble. Nady left the game with left hamstring tightness.

Bowie pitched five-plus innings, allowing two hits - both toDoumit - and one run. He walked five and struck out five.