(Not Quite) Instant Analysis: Pirates 7, Nats 1

James Wood belted a leadoff homer, but Carson Palmquist and Zack Littell combined to dig the Nationals into an early hole they couldn't escape

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

The Fourth of July started with a bang at Nationals Park. Unfortunately, nothing but whimpers followed for the home team.

Despite getting a third-deck home run from James Wood to begin the bottom of the first, the Nationals couldn’t get anything else going at the plate this morning. And when Carson Palmquist and Zack Littell combined to give up five early runs to the Pirates, the fate of his holiday matinee was decided long before it ended.

With PJ Poulin his only remaining left-handed reliever for matchup purposes late, Blake Butera decided to use Palmquist as the opener for today’s game in front of Littell. That plan backfired, with Palmquist giving up a first-inning run, then loading the bases with nobody out in the second. Littell was thrust into that jam, and though he didn’t give up much loud contact, he did allow all three inherited runners (plus another) to score, giving the Pirates a healthy lead.

To his credit, Littell settled in and churned out six innings on 88 pitches, officially charged with only one run of his own. In the process, he saved the bullpen from getting overextended in this one.

“It’s a tough spot to come into,” Butera said of the bases-loaded jam. “But the ability he had to get deep into the game there, and throw the ball well and keep them at bay to give us a chance to get back in the game … was really big for us.”

The Nationals hoped their explosive offense would get them back into the game, but that lineup was completely stymied by Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft … with one notable exception. Wood led off the bottom of the first with a moonshot off Ashcraft’s first pitch, the ball reaching the third deck in right field for his 23rd homer of the season.

“I knew I was going to have a chance to ambush a fastball there,” he said. “I was just glad to be able to connect with it.”

But they managed nothing else of consequence against Ashcraft, who struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings. And despite an opportunity to get back into the game in the seventh when reliever Yohan Ramirez issued three walks, Nasim Nuñez grounded into a double play and Andrés Chaparro (pinch-hitting for Luis Garcia Jr. after Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly brought in lefty Mason Montgomery) struck out to end the rally.

“That’s just a pretty clear, really tough, left-on-left matchup,” Butera said. “Mason Montgomery’s one of the best lefties in the game. That’s not an easy at-bat for any left-handed hitter. And Chappy’s here to hit lefties, so he’s going to get that opportunity to do so.”

Riley Cornelio took the game out of reach with a laborious top of the eighth in which the rookie right-hander gave up two more runs on three singles and two walks.

HITTING HIGHLIGHT: Unfortunately, it came from the first batter of the day for the Nationals. But Wood’s monster leadoff blast was still worthy of mention. He jumped all over Ashcraft’s first-pitch fastball and sent the ball soaring down the right-field line.

“CJ (Abrams) always jokes from the dugout steps — ‘1-0’ — before Woody even comes up,” Butera said. “Just because of the chance Woody can do like he did today.”

The entire crowd immediately knew it was gone, and when the ball landed in the first row of Sec. 236, Wood ensured some stadium worker will need to replace that dark blue seat with a red one as the 11th home run by a home player to reach the third deck at Nationals Park.

“Especially the lefties, it’s something we talk about every once in a while,” Wood said. “I think Keibert (Ruiz) is the only active National that’s got one there. So it’s pretty cool.”

PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: It was an unconventional pitching line, and it was a bit misleading, but Littell did ultimately go six innings allowing only one run. The trouble: He had to enter with the bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the second. And though there wasn’t much loud contact off him, he did allow all three inherited runners to score, plus another of his own making.

“I don’t think anything changes,” Littell said of being thrown into a jam like that. “You go out there, attack the zone and try to get in good spots where you can put hitters away. Obviously, the four runs score there, but I made good pitches. Had a broken-bat single, two flares in the outfield. But the mindset is to go attack guys, and I felt like we did that.”

Indeed, once he settled in, Littell was quite effective. He retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced, keeping the ball in the infield for the most part and keeping it in the park the entire time. For the first time in his last five outings, he did not surrender a home run.

NOTABLE: Jacob Young was a late scratch from today’s lineup due to left hand soreness. The outfielder didn’t play Friday night but has dealt with occasional issues with that hand and wrist since being hit by a pitch in spring training.

UP NEXT: The series concludes Sunday at the special time of 1 p.m., with most MLB games throughout the day being telecast only on Peacock. Cade Cavalli (who is on full rest) will actually make the start for the Nats instead of Miles Mikolas, with both pitchers’ suspensions still pending their appeals with MLB. Right-hander Bubba Chadler is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates. TV: Peacock RADIO: 106.7 FM