The opener of a doubleheader between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals belongs to the Pirates. Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie, and the Pirates held on for a 5-3 victory in the first game at Nationals Park.
The Nationals had tied the score at two on a home run by Rick Ankiel, who pinch-hit for Livan Hernandez in the seventh inning. But Hernandez was forced out of the game because of it and Sean Burnett entered. Burnett retired one batter, then surrendered the back-to-back home runs, continuing his struggling season. The Pirates added an insurance run in the ninth for the margin of victory.
Hernandez and Pirates starter James McDonald pitched into the seventh inning, but got no-decisions. Jose Veras got the win for Pittsburgh, while Burnett suffered the loss. Game 2 of the doubleheader will begin at 7:05 p.m.