Bubba Chandler's no-hit bid, Andrew McCutchen's 2-run single lead Pirates to streak-snapping win vs. Nationals

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sep 13, 2025

Published in Baseball

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In the last seven games — and all season, really — the Pirates have been hurt by an inability to get runners in, come up with one big hit and capitalize on strong starting pitching.

On Saturday afternoon against the Nationals, their leader came up with that big hit, then a September call-up came up with another. Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen and first baseman Nick Yorke both had two-out, two-run singles in the eighth inning, leading the Pirates to a 5-1 win against the Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak.

The key hits ensured Bubba Chandler’s stellar outing wasn’t wasted. Chandler, making just his second career start, completed five perfect innings before allowing two hits and a run in the sixth. He finished with career highs in innings (six) and strikeouts (seven), rebounding from a disastrous first start against the Brewers in a big way.

Yet, for seven innings, it looked like Chandler’s career-best effort would still end in a loss. The Pirates managed just three hits in six innings against Nationals starter Andrew Alvarez, a rookie making his third career start. Down 1-0 after the seventh, an eighth consecutive loss, a fifth consecutive one-run loss and a 16th shutout defeat of the season seemed near.

Then the Pirates capitalized on a few free baserunners in the eighth. Nationals relievers Cole Henry and PJ Poulin combined for three walks in the inning, plus a single from Bryan Reynolds that deflected off Poulin’s leg. With the bases loaded, McCutchen gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead with a single to right field off Poulin, scoring pinch-runner Liover Peguero and Tommy Pham. Yorke followed up with a single off Jackson Rutledge to score Reynolds and McCutchen.

Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski pitched two scoreless innings in relief, earning the win and improving to 4-8. Dennis Santana finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

It was over when ...

The Pirates seemed comfortable after Yorke’s single, but Jared Triolo added one last insurance run with a solo homer off Washington lefty Shinnosuke Ogasawara in the ninth. The homer extended the Pirates’ streak of consecutive games with an extra-base hit to 48.

On the mound

Chandler was dominant, a good sign after the first start of his career. He didn’t allow a baserunner until allowing a single to Nationals right fielder Dylan Crews on his first pitch of the sixth inning. He allowed another single to center fielder Robert Hassell III, the only blemish on an excellent outing.

The key was his fastball, which he threw 45 times in a career-high 81 pitches. The Nationals swung and missed 13 times at the pitch.

At the plate

Reynolds went 2 for 4 with a walk, while Triolo finished 2 for 5 with his homer. Pham walked three times, including a nine-pitch at-bat against Ogasawara in the ninth.

Most valuable player

While Chandler couldn’t complete his bid for perfection, he still stood out. He responded to his first dose of major league adversity well and should stick in the Pirates rotation moving forward.

Up next

The Pirates end their road trip with an early game on Sunday, starting their series finale against the Nationals at 11:35 a.m. The game will start early so it can be broadcast to troops overseas. Mike Burrows (2-4, 3.99 ERA) will start for the Pirates against Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (3-1, 4.67).