Nationals 9, Pirates 2
WASHINGTON -- Yunel Escobar had two hits in the first inning, including a three-run homer, and Bryce Harper contributed to the record-setting frame with a two-run home run as the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 on Sunday to sweep the three-game series.
Washington starter Gio Gonzalez (5-4), who gave up five runs in his last start, allowed just four hits and no runs in seven innings before Matt Thornton took over in the eighth. First-place Washington (37-33) has won seven in a row over the second-place Pirates (39-30).
The Nationals set a franchise record of 24 innings in a row without allowing a run when Thornton set down the side in the eighth. First baseman Corey Hart hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Felipe Rivero to ruin the shutout bid by a trio of lefties.
Escobar, the third baseman, sat out Saturday's game with a stomach bug as teammate Max Scherzer threw the second no-hitter in franchise history. But Escobar didn't wait long to be part of history Sunday, as he singled and scored the first run and then homered later as Washington set a franchise record with nine runs in the first inning before a sellout crowd of 40,015 on a sun-drenched afternoon.
Harper, the right fielder, homered for the second day in a row to drive in Escobar for a 2-0 lead. It was Harper's 24th home run of the season. The 12-hit attack was also aided by a two-hit effort from catcher Jose Lobaton and starting left fielder Michael A. Taylor.
All nine of the runs in the first came against Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (5-1), who got just two outs after he entered the game with a career-high five wins in a row. Vance Worley took over for Morton in the first and pitched 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief with two hits allowed to help save the Pittsburgh bullpen.
The beneficiary of the offensive barrage was lefty Gonzalez, who lost his no-hitter in the first inning a day after teammate Scherzer nearly threw a perfect game.
Lobaton and Taylor had RBI singles to make it 4-0 in the first. Ian Desmond, the shortstop, scored on a wild pitch, and Gonzalez had an RBI double down the right-field line to up the margin to 6-0.
Escobar then crushed a three-run homer down the left-field line to make it 9-0 and send Morton to the showers. The Nationals swept the three-game series by a combined 19-3 after losing eight of their previous 12 games. Pittsburgh had won eight in a row before being swept by Washington, which had every starter reach base by the second inning.
The Pirates got a double in the first inning by center fielder Andrew McCutchen with two outs. Second baseman Josh Harrison, who made the last out in the no-hitter, had two hits Sunday.
NOTES: The no-hitter by Washington RHP Max Scherzer on Saturday meant he was the first pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games while allowing one hit or less in both games since Jim Tobin in 1944 with the Boston Braves, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Scherzer threw a one-hitter at Milwaukee on June 14. ... Washington OF Bryce Harper, who hit a home run Saturday, was in the lineup again Sunday after he sat out Friday with a mild left hamstring strain. ... The Nationals activated RHP Tanner Roark from the paternity list and sent RHP Taylor Hill to Triple-A Syracuse. ... After an off day Monday, Pittsburgh LHP Jeff Locke (4-3, 4.74 ERA) will face Cincinnati RHP Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.98 ERA) on Tuesday. ... The Nationals are off Monday and begin a series with Atlanta at home Tuesday as LHP Alex Wood (4-4, 3.40 ERA) pitches for the Braves. Washington had not named its starter for Tuesday by game time Sunday. ... Pittsburgh INF Josh Harrison had hit safely in nine of the last 10 games. He was the last out in the no-hitter by Scherzer on Saturday.