WASHINGTON, D.C. — Luis García Jr. and Daylen Lile each launched a pair of home runs and José Tena added one of his own as the Washington Nationals pounded out a 9-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at Nationals Park.
Foster Griffin (9-2) picked up the win despite a modest strikeout total, allowing one run on four hits over five innings. The left-hander has now won five of his last nine starts — a stretch in which Washington has gone 8-1 — and has allowed one run or fewer in six consecutive outings. Mitch Keller (6-6) took the loss for Pittsburgh, giving up five runs on eight hits in six innings as the Nationals’ bats stayed red-hot in triple-digit heat.
García Jr. and Lile did the heavy lifting at the plate, each connecting twice to power the Washington offense, while Tena chipped in a solo shot of his own. Bryan Reynolds answered with a home run for the Pirates, but it wasn’t enough to slow down a Nationals lineup that has now won five of its last six games.
The win pushed Washington to 46-43 on the season as the Nationals continue to jockey for position in a crowded NL wild-card race. They’ll look to carry the momentum into the finale of the series against Pittsburgh.