Nationals beat Pirates


May 5, 2013 at 7:45p.m.

Nationals beat Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tyler Moore hit a three-run homer and Danny Espinosa homered and drove in three runs, leading the Washington Nationals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 Sunday.

Moore homered in the eighth inning off rookie reliever Bryan Morris and broke open a 3-2 game. Moore homered for the first time this year after hitting 10 in 75 games last season as a rookie.

Nationals star Bryce Harper was ejected in the first inning for disputing a checked-swing third strike. He tried to hold up on a 2-2 pitch, but third base umpire John Hirschbeck ruled Harper swung.

Harper stood outside the batter’s box, stared at Hirschbeck for a few moments and dropped his bat. Hirschbeck tossed last season’s NL Rookie of the Year.

Starling Marte hit a leadoff homer in the first, his fourth home run in five games for Pittsburgh.