PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) The Pittsburgh Pirates have snapped a five-game losing streak with a wild victory in Washington against the Nationals.
Bryan Reynolds smashed three home runs, Daniel Vogelbach had a long ball of his own, and a lesser known rule of baseball played in the Pirates' benefit as they win 8-7.
The first of Reynolds' three home runs opened the scoring in the first inning with a two-run blast.
The Nationals themselves scored a pair making it a 2-2 game after the first inning, then added a third run in the second inning.
Vogelbach hit his 10th home run of the year to tie the game at three win the top of the fourth inning.
Then came the top of the fifth inning, and the reason everyone will remember Rule 5.09c(4).
The Nationals not properly appealing Jack Suwinski's tag cost them a run and the Buccos took a 4-3 lead.
The Pirates wouldn't hold the lead long as the Nats reached a 6-4 lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning.
On the second pitch of the top of the sixth inning, Reynolds slammed his second homer of the game to put the Pirates back by one.
Reynolds' was back at the plate in the following inning with two men on for his third blast of the game, 15th on the season, and sixth RBI of the game.
His third long ball gave the Pirates an 8-6 lead heading into the eighth inning.
The Nationals hit one last home run of their own to stand one run back, but it wasn't enough.
Yerry De Los Santos stepped in and pitched the bottom half of the ninth inning collecting the first save of his MLB career.
Chase De Jong was credited with the victory, pitching 1.2 innings and improving to 3-0 on the year.
Former Pirates infielder Josh Bell went 3-3 for the Nationals including two doubles and two walks.
This was the Pirates first win since their 10-inning walk off victory over the Chicago Cubs on June 23.
The Buccos head back home and will take on the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-game series.
