Cole pitches Pirates past Nationals


July 23, 2013 at 10:15p.m.

Cole pitches Pirates past Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) — Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings to end a personal three-game losing streak, and added an RBI single as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Pedro Alvarez homered and singled, and Russell Martin had three hits for Pittsburgh, which has won three straight.

Wilson Ramos homered for Washington, which had just three hits. The Nationals have lost five straight and 10 of 12.

Cole (5-3) turned in the best outing of his young career, allowing a run on two hits in his eighth career start.

Washington’s Taylor Jordan (0-3) allowed five runs, four earned, in 7 2/3 innings in his fifth career start.