Instant Analysis: Nats 5, Pirates 4

CJ Abrams led an early offensive explosion, then the Nationals bullpen managed to protect a one-run lead over the final four innings

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

PITTSBURGH – The Nationals gave their bullpen zero margin for error over the final four innings of tonight’s game at PNC Park. That group responded with four zeros and a tight, 5-4 victory over the Pirates.

Mitchell Parker, making his season debut following his promotion from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day, recorded six big outs during the middle innings to protect his team’s one-run lead. Cionel Pérez, Clayton Beeter and Gus Varland then handled the rest, combining for 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close it out and make up for Monday night’s blowout loss, with Varland stranding the tying run in scoring position to earn his second save of the road trip.

The Nats enjoyed plenty of early offense, staking the pitching staff to a 3-0 lead before making an out in the top of the first, thanks in part to RBI singles from Brady House, Daylen Lile and CJ Abrams. Abrams would add a solo homer in the top of the third – not to mention a double in the eighth – and Luis Garcia Jr. would add a two-out RBI single in the fourth, bringing an early end to Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller’s night.

They then asked their pitching staff to make those five early runs hold up, no easy challenge for this group. PJ Poulin, in the opener role, gave up a first-inning homer to Brandon Lowe before completing his frame. Miles Mikolas faced the minimum on 19 pitches through his first two innings but then was burned by two walks who came around to score in his third inning and then a solo homer by Joey Bart in his fourth inning of work. No problem, because the rest of the bullpen kept the Pirates from scoring again.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: As impressive as Abrams has been so far, it’s really just a repeat of what he did early in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His homer tonight – a no-doubter into the right-field bleachers – was his sixth of the year, and along with his run-scoring single in the first he now has 19 RBI in 16 games played. There’s still a long way to go until the All-Star break, but Abrams appears well on his way to another standout first half and possible All-Star consideration for the third straight season.

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: We didn’t know exactly when, or in what situation, Parker would make his season debut tonight. But we knew it would happen at some point. Turns out it came in a high-leverage situation, and the left-hander handled it with aplomb. Parker entered with one out in the fifth after Mikolas surrendered the homer that trimmed the Nationals’ lead to one run. He proceeded to strike out the first three batters he faced and five batters overall during two innings of scoreless relief. With a sharp slider and some renewed confidence, Parker did exactly what the Nats wanted as a long man who could still get important outs. We’ll see what happens with him now, but he certainly made a strong first impression.

NOTABLE: Poulin has now made 10 appearances through the first 17 games of the season, most among NL pitchers and tied for the MLB lead.

UP NEXT: Jake Irvin will start Wednesday’s 6:40 p.m. game for the Nats. The Pirates haven’t officially named their starter yet, but they’re expected to use left-hander Mason Montgomery (who pitched in relief tonight) as an opener for Carmen Mlodzinski. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM