Nats beat Pirates, pull within two games of idle Braves

Nats beat Pirates, pull within two games of idle Braves

Stephen Strasburg was not on his game tonight, but his teammates had his back, coming from a 4-2 deficit to beat the Pirates in the ninth inning on Tyler Moore’s sac fly to score Ryan Zimmerman.

Strasburg went seven innings with eight strikeouts, but had trouble commanding his fastball, hitting two batters and surrendering two-run home runs to Starling Marte and Clint Barmes.

Though he had a no decision today, Strasburg is 1-4 with a 3.45 ERA in seven starts this season.

Zimmerman, who scored three runs in his second game back from the disabled list, was part of a double steal in the ninth inning. He was on second, with Adam LaRoche on first, when the two pulled off a double steal, allowing Tyler Moore to hit a sacrifice fly with one  out to score Zimmerman.

Pirates starter Jeff Locke pitched five-plus innings, allowing four runs, three earned, with three walks and three strikeouts.

Tyler Clippard (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Rafael Soriano got his 10th save with a strange 1-2-3 ninth.

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