Pirates 7, Nationals 5
PITTSBURGH -- Gregory Polanco had two hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs while Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker also homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.
Walker, rookie third baseman Jung Ho Kang and catcher Francisco Cervelli als had two hit each for the Pirates, who had 12 hits in the game.
Kang extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Walker, the switch-hitting second baseman, hit the second of back-to-back home runs with Polanco, the leadoff-hitting right fielder, in the fifth inning off Nationals ace pitcher Max Scherzer.
Scherzer pitched a no-hitter the last time he faced the Pirates on June 20 at Washington, but was not nearly as sharp this time while not factoring in the decision. The right-hander was tagged for all three home runs while giving up five runs and seven hits in five innings with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Scherzer remained 10-9 and is 1-3 in his last five starts. He is also 0-2 in four career starts at PNC Park.
The Pirates (56-40) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning off rookie left-hander Sammy Solis (1-1) to break a 5-5 tie as pinch hitter Brent Morel stroked an RBI double with two outs and scored on Polanco's single.
Pirates closer Mark Melancon worked around two singles to pitch a scoreless ninth inning for his 31st save in 32 opportunities.
The Pirates won the first two games of the four-game series following a 1-5 road trip to Milwaukee and Kansas City coming out of last week's All-Star Game. Pittsburgh entered the day leading the National League wild card race by 3 1/2 games but trailing the St. Louis Cardinals by six games in the NL Central.
The first-place Nationals (51-44) stayed three games ahead of the New York Mets in the NL East.
Right-handed reliever Vance Worley (4-5) got the win despite allowing shortstop Ian Desmond's leadoff home run in the top of the sixth that drew the Nationals even. It was Desmond's second homer in as many games and 10th of the season.
Pirates starter Jeff Locke pitched five innings and did not factor in the decision as the left-hander allowed four runs and four hits while walking three and striking out five.
The Pirates used back-to-back home runs by Polanco and Walker to score three runs in the fifth inning to pull in front 5-4.
Polanco hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run blast to cap a 12-pitch plate appearance after pinch hitter Jaff Decker drew a leadoff walk. Walker followed with his eighth homer of the year.
The Nationals had batted around in a four-run fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Catcher Wilson Ramos singled in the first run, and first baseman Tyler Moore lined a two-run double to left-center before second baseman Dan Uggla capped the inning with an RBI single.
Alvarez opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the second, a 460-foot shot that cleared the stands in right-center field and bounced in to the Allegheny River on one hop. It was Alvarez's 14th homer of the season and the second in as many games.
NOTES: Washington 1B Clint Robinson was scratched moments before game time because of illness. 1B/OF Tyler Moore shifted from left field to first base and OF Matt den Dekker started in left field. ... Washington 3B Yunel Escobar (sore left wrist) was not in the lineup for a second straight game and remains day-to-day. 2B Danny Espinosa again moved to third base with Escobar out and INF Dan Uggla started at second base. ... Pittsburgh 1B/OF Corey Hart (left shoulder impingement/right knee discomfort), who has been on the disabled list since June 22, went home to Litchfield Park, Ariz., on Friday and will continue his rehab there before going on a minor league rehab assignment. ... Pirates RHP Rob Schahill (right forearm tightness) is expected to throw a bullpen over the weekend for the first time going on the DL on June 26 and will likely have one additional bullpen session before being sent out on a rehab assignment next week.