Nats & rookie pitcher take care of Bucs, 5-4
WASHINGTON (AP) — Craig Stammen left his major league debut to a standing ovation — and his team was trailing.
The Washington Nationals made sure the rookie’s gutsy effort wasn’t a footnote in another disappointing defeat.
Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn had RBI singles in the eighth inning, helping the Nationals end a seven-game skid with a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
“Whenever somebody comes out there and gives you an effort like that, you obviously want to do everything you can to reward them,” Zimmerman said. “It was nice to come back and get [Stammen] off the hook because he did throw so well.”
Washington’s bullpen — which had been 1-15 with 13 blown saves in 19 chances — came through for a change. Julian Tavarez (1-3) got the victory with 12‚Ñ3 innings of scoreless relief and Joel Hanrahan got three outs for his fourth save in seven opportunities.
Stammen retired the first 12 batters he faced in his first big league game, but couldn’t hold a 3-0 lead. The 25-year-old right-hander, who had his contract purchased from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day, didn’t allow a baserunner until Adam LaRoche led off the fifth with a double over the first-base bag.
“I thought I controlled my emotions and my thought process pretty well,” said Stammen, who allowed four runs on four hits in 61‚Ñ3 innings, walked one and struck out three. “I just didn’t make pitches when I needed to. The third time through the lineup, I needed to make some better pitches.”
But Washington’s comeback bailed Stammen out and prevented a season-high eighth straight loss.
Trailing 4-3 in the eighth, Cristian Guzman started the decisive rally with a one-out single off Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) and moved to second on Nick Johnson’s single to center. Zimmerman followed with a tying single to right, the 39th straight game he has reached base safely. Dunn put Washington ahead with the fourth straight single of the inning.
LaRoche homered for the Pirates, who had won five straight.
“We just battle. We were down early and then they fought back,” Pirates starter Ian Snell said. “Unfortunately, that’s a good lineup. You can’t contain them for much longer, and they scored some runs.”
Josh Bard had two RBIs for Washington.