Pirates 4, Nationals 2
Pedro Alvarez homered and Francisco Liriano outdueled Stephen Strasburg as visiting Pittsburgh defeated Washington for the third consecutive night.
Liriano (10-4) allowed two hits and struck out eight in 7 2/3 shutout innings while winning for the fifth time in six starts. Strasburg (5-8) struck out a season-high 12 batters and gave up one run and two hits in eight innings but couldn’t prevent the Nationals’ losing skid from reaching six games.
Alvarez slammed his 26th homer in the second inning, a blast off a 2-1 pitch from Strasburg for the only run over the first eight innings. Pittsburgh added three runs in the ninth on Neil Walker’s double and Michael McKenry’s two-run single en route to its fourth straight win and 60th of the season.
Liriano pitched 5 2/3 no-hit innings until Anthony Rendon reached on an infield single in the sixth. As Alvarez made a diving attempt to his left, the ball popped out of his glove and rolled away to his right when he hurriedly tried to retrieve it and make a throw.
Liriano allowed a leadoff single in the eighth to Steve Lombardozzi and left after striking out Scott Hairston for the second out. Justin Wilson retired Rendon on a foul pop to end the inning and allowed a two-run homer in the ninth to Jayson Werth before Mark Melancon recorded the final three outs for his third save to send Washington to its 11th loss in 13 games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington LF Bryce Harper (knee) and SS Ian Desmond (hand blister) both missed the game with minor injuries. … The contest ended with Denard Span bouncing into a double play in which Walker attempted to tag Wilson Ramos running toward second. Second-base umpire Laz Diaz called Ramos out despite replays showing Walker never tagged Ramos. … The contest marked the first time Strasburg has struck out 10 or more batters this season and the ninth time in his career.