WASHINGTON -- Chris Archer had pitched well for the Pirates in his first two outings this season, but had struggled with his pitch count. That led to him lasting just 11 total innings in two starts, despite allowing just three earned runs in those two games.
Saturday against the Nationals, Archer was hitting his targets more often than not. And after a rough first inning in which he threw 22 pitches, the Pirates' starter settled in nicely over the next six innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
But Richard Rodriguez was unable to hold the lead, allowing back-to-back homers to Adam Eaton and Howie Kendrick on consecutive pitches with two outs in the eighth inning as the Nationals rallied to beat the Pirates, 3-2.
"It sucks. It's frustrating," Archer said after the loss. "We played a great game. Our margin for error is small. Some good hitters put some good swings on balls. Sometimes, that's the way it goes."
For seven innings Saturday, the good hitters in the Nationals' lineup were having fits trying to put many good swings on what Archer was throwing.
He allowed a single to Eaton and walked Kendrick to open the game, but got red-hot Anthony Rendon to hit into a 6-4-3 double play before striking out Juan Soto to end the threat.
From there, the only time the Nationals (7-6) got Archer into any serious trouble was in the bottom of the fourth when Rendon led off with a double to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Archer got the next two outs, but catcher Kurt Suzuki singled to left to tie the game at 1-1. The Pirates had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the inning on an RBI double by Colin Moran, driving in Josh Bell, who had tripled earlier in the inning.
Archer didn't allow another hit after that, working through the seventh when he was pulled after throwing 94 pitches, 60 of which were strikes.
"I felt good," Archer said. "But it's a little bittersweet because we didn't win the game. Replaying back, I wish I could have executed a little better to Suzuki and our team would have been in a little better spot."
The Pirates held a 2-1 lead at that point, thanks to Melky Cabrera's first home run with the Pirates in the top of the sixth when Archer left, turning the ball over to Rodriguez to start the eighth.
Archer's final pitch of the game was a check-swing strikeout of Wilmer Difo, his ninth of the game.
"Yeah, I felt good. I felt like I had a little bit left," Archer told me when I asked if he could have kept going. "You can't always second guess everything. You can't always use hindsight. The way Richie's been throwing, I trusted him to come in and get the job done. And I will again tomorrow."
After allowing three runs, two of which were earned, to the Cardinals back on April 1, Rodriguez had been unscored upon in his last six outings, spanning 4 2/3 innings.
And he retired pinch hitter Ryan Zimmerman on a fly ball and Victor Robles on a strikeout before Eaton worked him to a full count with two outs. Eaton, who had three of Washington's six hits in the game, hammered a 3-2 fastball into the stands in right field to tie the game, bringing up Kendrick.
On the first pitch of the at bat, Kendrick did this:
"You have two strikes and two outs and you're not able to close it out," manager Clint Hurdle said. "You've got to be able to finish stuff up here. That team stayed in the fight."
Cabrera singled to start the ninth off Washington closer Sean Doolittle and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by JB Shuck. But after Erik Gonzalez drew a one-out walk, pinch hitter Jung Ho Kang struck out and Adam Frazier flew out to left field to end the game.
It wasted another fine starting pitching effort -- in this case by Archer.
"I think he started off slow and then got into a really good rhythm. I don't think anyone is going to draw it up that you (put the first two guys on) to get to Rendon," Hurdle said. "To be able to get a couple of double plays off the bat of Rendon was significant. He had four pitches working today. After the second inning, things started to synching up. He retired a dozen guys on three pitches or less. He was executing and really controlling bat speed."
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE GOOD
Cabrera continues to hit the ball well for the Pirates. After getting the night off as a starter Friday night -- he had a pinch-hit double in the game -- Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a homer.
The 14-year veteran who made the Pirates' roster in Spring Training on a minor league contract, is now batting .432.
"Melky bangs," said Archer, who faced Cabrera quite a few times when both were in the American League. "Melky has always banged his entire career. He can swing the bat. I faced him a lot in the American League, so I'm not surprised. His defense is good, too. He brings a lot to this clubhouse."
After going 0-for-4 in the Pirates' opener this season. Cabrera is 15 for his last 32 (.469) since.
The 34-year-old Cabrera wasn't supposed to be playing this much, but injuries to Gregory Polanco, Corey Dickerson and Lonnie Chisenhall have opened the door for him to see extensive playing time.
He's made the most of it.
"You don't want things like this to happen," Cabrera said. "But they trust me and I'm available and I'm going to do everything possible to help the organization win."
THE BAD
The eighth inning continues to be an issue for the Pirates. Setup man Keone Kela was given the day off Saturday by Hurdle after allowing a game-tying home run in the eighth inning Friday night that raised his ERA to 9.13.
Kendrick's homer came one pitch after Eaton had tied the game, and that homer seemed to rattle Rodriguez.
Rodriguez had been rolling along of late, but allowed the back-to-back homers in this game to give the Pirates their third loss this season when leading after seven innings. They're now 6-3 in those situations this season. Last year, they were 69-3 when leading after seven innings.
"We're going to make mistakes. We're going to go 0-for-4. We're going to give up homers," catcher Francisco Cervelli told me. "This is normal. In the big leagues, if you make mistakes, you pay. It's a long season. I know we've got to win these games, but we're human. We're going to make mistakes all the time. We've got to keep it up. We can't let this situation make us a smaller team."
Kela should be available to pitch again today. And Hurdle is going to keep using both he and Rodriguez in high-pressure situations as the Pirates try to figure this out.
Pittsburgh's starters entered Saturday's game with a MLB-best 1.83 ERA, one that Archer lowered by allowing one run in seven innings.
But the bullpen's ERA from the seventh inning on is now 4.65. And that includes closer Felipe Vazquez, who is unscored upon in 6 2/3 innings. Take his innings out of the equation and the staff's ERA after the seventh inning is 6.04.
"I still have ultra confidence (in those guys)," Archer said. "A couple of games here or there, but it's April. It's early. We have a lot of baseball left. A guy like Rodriguez, he has a track record. He did it all year last year. Two tough games, a couple of pitches he wishes he could have got back. Some of the other guys have had some ups downs. It's a couple of pitches. We have a long season. I'm fully confident what those guys can do."
THE OTHER SIDE
Despite putting together seven hits, including three extra base hits against Nationals starter Anibal Sanchez in seven innings, the Pirates managed just two hits against him as Sanchez stranded six batters on base.
The 35-year-old only struck out two batters and walked one, but kept the Pirates off balance throughout the game. He doesn't throw hard, but he pitches well to spots.
"His mix is always going to be good," Hurdle said of the Washington veteran. "He has that ability that it seems like you're one pitch behind. He mixes, he battles and throws strikes."
Cervelli saw Sanchez quite a bit when he was with the Yankees and sees the same pitcher he saw back then.
"This guy has been fun to watch," Cervelli said. "I was a big fan of him. I've always been."
THE DATA
• Not only does Rendon now have a 12-game hitting streak, matching his career high, he's got an extra base hit in 10 consecutive games, which is a record for the Nationals.
• With his RBI double Saturday, Moran is now 4-for-8 with one homer and 6 RBIs with runners in scoring position this season.
• Kang continues to struggle with the bat. With his strikeout Saturday, he's now just 4 of 36
• Bell is batting .364 (12-for-33) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs, and seven RBIs in his last nine games.
• The save for Doolittle was his first of the season. He had 25 for the Nationals last season.
THE INJURIES
• Kevin Newman, infielder, was placed on the injured list Thursday with a lacerated right ring finger and there is no timetable for his return.
• Elias Diaz, catcher, is recovering from a virus and has had his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Indianapolis from Bradenton. He is 6-for-12 with two doubles and three RBIs in three games for Indy. In two games with Bradenton, Diaz was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, one stolen base, two walks and one strikeout.
• Gregory Polanco, outfielder, is recovering from left shoulder surgery and is on a rehab assignment. He was 2-for-13 with two RBIs, four walks and two strikeouts in four games with Class A Bradenton but has been moved to Class AAA Indianapolis.
• Dovydas Neverauskas, right-handed reliever, is recovering from a strained left oblique and has had his rehab assignment moved to Indianapolis from Bradenton. He pitched a scoreless inning in both his appearances with the Marauders.
• Corey Dickerson, outfielder, has a strained right shoulder. The expectation is for him to be back in late April/early May.
• Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder is out with a broken right hand and is taking batting practice without restriction.
• Kyle Crick, right-handed reliever, is out with right triceps tightness and played catch for the first time Wednesday.
• Jose Osuna, first baseman/outfielder, is in extended spring training and is participating in all baseball activities. He is expected to begin playing in simulated games next week.
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will play Washington again Sunday (1:35 p.m.) with Jameson Taillon (0-2, 3.00) facing righty Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.32). I will be providing the coverage throughout the weekend and John Perrotto will be back Tuesday in Detroit.
THE COVERAGE
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