Lane Thomas hit a three-run shot Sunday, one of three home runs smacked by Washington as the visiting Nationals topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 to avoid a series sweep.
Pittsburgh, the only team in the major leagues that has not swept an opponent, has been on the cusp 13 times.
Alex Avila and Luis Garcia also homered, and Yadiel Hernandez added an RBI single for the Nationals (59-84), who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Washington starter Patrick Corbin (8-14) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, with two walks and four strikeouts. He also singled, scored a run and drew a walk.
Kyle Finnegan picked up a five-out save, his ninth.
Bryan Reynolds had a sacrifice fly RBI for the Pirates (52-91), who had won four of five.
Pittsburgh starter Bryse Wilson (2-7) gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, with two walks and no strikeouts. He also knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt.
The Nationals opened the scoring in the second. Garcia led off with his fifth homer, a line drive to right-center, for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Wilmer Difo led off with a single to center, went to second on Anthony Alford’s single to center, to third on Ben Gamel’s fielder’s choice and scored on Wilson’s sacrifice bunt to tie it for the Pirates.
It was Wilson’s first career RBI.
Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the third. Kevin Newman opened with a triple to left-center and came home on Reynolds’ sacrifice fly.
The Nationals came right back to take the lead for good, all with two outs in the fourth. Avila homered to right, his first, to tie it 2-2. Adrian Sanchez doubled to center and advanced to third on Corbin’s base hit to left. Thomas followed with a three-run shot to right, his fourth homer, to make it 5-2.
Against reliever Luis Oviedo in the seventh, Juan Soto hit a leadoff triple to right-center. Josh Bell walked, and Hernandez singled to center to drive in Soto for a 6-2 Washington lead.
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–Field Level Media