BASEBALL: CJ Abrams' 3 hits help Nationals eke out win over Pirates

CJ Abrams went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs to lead the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. The win allowed Washington to even the four-game series at one apiece, while Pittsburgh saw their recent success stumble, losing for only the fourth time in the last 13 games.

Brady House also contributed with two hits and an RBI, as the Nationals secured their fourth win in five games. The Pirates struggled offensively, leaving seven runners on base and going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Despite a late-game rally, Pittsburgh came up short in their efforts to come from behind.

Pittsburgh had a chance to narrow the gap in the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out against Nationals' pitcher Mitchell Parker. However, Cionel Perez, who took over in relief, managed to get pinch hitter Nick Yorke to ground into a double play, ending the threat.

Parker (1-0) finished the night with two innings of scoreless relief, striking out five. In the ninth inning, Pittsburgh managed to put two runners on base with one out, but Nationals' closer Gus Varland sealed the win by striking out Oneil Cruz and getting Yorke to pop up for the final out. Varland earned his second save of the season.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller (1-1) had a rough outing, surrendering five runs on six hits, four walks, and three strikeouts in just four innings of work. Keller's early-season dominance faltered as the Nationals' offense struck early and often.

Washington's offense came alive right away in the first inning, scoring three runs after the first five batters reached base. House, Daylen Lile, and Abrams each delivered an RBI single before the Pirates could record the first out of the inning. The Nationals pushed their lead to 5-1 in the third and fourth innings, thanks to Abrams' solo home run and an RBI single from Luis Garcia Jr.

Pittsburgh made a comeback attempt in the fourth inning, cutting the deficit to 5-3 with an RBI double from Marcell Ozuna and a groundout by Nick Gonzales. Ozuna, who had been struggling with just three hits in his last 43 at-bats, added two hits on the night. He nearly made it three hits in the eighth when he lined a ball into the left-center gap, but Lile made a spectacular diving catch to keep the Pirates from scoring further.

PJ Poulin started for the Nationals as an opener, allowing one run on a Brandon Lowe home run in his one inning of work. Miles Mikolas followed in relief, giving up three runs over 3 1/3 innings, including a solo homer by Joey Bart in the fifth that cut Washington's lead to 5-4.

With the victory, the Nationals will look to take the series lead in the next game as both teams battle it out in the final contest of the four-game series.

-Field Level Media/Reuters