Most Valuable Player
Pirates SS Jack Wilson hurt the Nats with his bat and glove. Finished 4-for-4 with two-run double in sixth and a triple in eighth. Also made sick pickup and throw to get Ryan Zimmerman out on a grounder deep in the hole at short in the fourth.
All-Star Performance
Ryan Zimmerman did his part during five-run fifth. Drove line drive home run off Pirates RHP Ross Ohlendorf into the red seats in center. Zimmerman was 2-for-5 and now has reached base in 36 straight games and 37 of 38 this season.
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Overlooked
It wasn’t just that LHP Ross Detwiler made good showing in his MLB debut. It was that 2007 first-round draft pick continued to limit control issues. He hit a batter, but issued no walks and has allowed just 10 in 7 combined starts in AA and the majors.
Oops!
Nats SS Cristian Guzman put his rookie pitcher in a bad spot right away. He committed two errors on ground balls in the first inning alone — one going to his left and another to his right. But Detwiler escaped with no damage.
From the bench
Nats manager Manny Acta said on Monday that Joel Hanrahan will again be the team’s closer. The reliever lost his spot after blowing three saves in his first five attempts last month.
John Russell’s club entered in last-place in the NL Central. But injuries have played a part. C Ryan Doumit, RHP Craig Hansen and RHP Tyler Yates are all on the 15-day DL.
