Polanco has 4 RBIs as Pirates top Nationals 6-3

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Gregory Polanco drove in four runs in the first two innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates went on to a 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Polanco hit a two-run double in the first as the Pirates started the game with four straight hits, then added a two-run home run in the second, his 13th of the season to extend the lead to 6-1.

Ivan Nova (5-6) worked around eight hits to hold the Nationals to three runs over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

Felipe Vazquez pitched the ninth for his 19th save of the season as Pittsburgh won its second straight after a five-game skid.

Juan Soto and Bryce Harper each hit solo home runs for Washington, which has lost 10 of its last 14.

Corey Dickerson started the bottom of the first with a single, Starling Marte doubled and they both scored on Polanco’s double. Colin Moran drove in Polanco with a double one batter later.

Adam Eaton had an RBI single in the second to get the Nationals on the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the inning, Max Moroff walked and Dickerson drove him in with a triple to make it 4-1. Polanco homered one out later.

Jefry Rodriguez (0-1) took 90 pitches to get through five innings, and was charged with all six runs. He walked four and struck out four.

Soto hit his ninth homer in the fifth and Harper his 22nd in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (right shoulder inflammation) will make his first rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Harrisburg. … INF Ryan Zimmerman (oblique) is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list, but is still working toward going out on a rehab assignment.

Pirates: INF/OF Sean Rodriguez (right quadriceps strain) had his rehab assignment transferred from Triple-A Indianapolis to Single-A Bradenton in order to keep playing through the Triple-A All-Star break. He hit .261 in six games with Indianapolis.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1, 3.81 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday. He’s 0-1 with an 11.42 ERA in two starts since coming off the disabled list on July 1.

Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove (3-3, 3.79 ERA) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list to start on Tuesday. Musgrove has been out of action since June 29 with an infection in a finger on his throwing hand.

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Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jefry Rodriguez in the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco drives in two runs with a single off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jefry Rodriguez in the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper hits a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jefry Rodriguez, left, gets the ball from catcher Matt Wieters during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)