PITTSBURGH _ During the Washington Nationals' 6-1 win over the Pirates Saturday night, plastic sheets were pinned over lockers in the visiting clubhouse at PNC Park, and champagne chilled. The scoreboard in right field told of a barnburner at Citi Field _ the New York Mets were whittling away at a 10-run deficit _ that could crown Washington champions of the National League East division.
The Nationals (90-64) awaited the Mets' fate. The Pirates' elimination number was cut to five.
Before the series began, the Nationals' magic number then at two, manager Clint Hurdle said "it leaves a sour taste in your mouth" when another team pops champagne at your ballpark.
The Pirates (77-77) provided little resistance after a dramatic, 11th-inning walk-off win Friday. Right-hander Ivan Nova received no respite from the Nationals lineup or the leaky Pirates defense. He allowed eight hits and six runs, three earned, over four innings before departing.
If Nova's first eight starts for the Pirates _ a 2.41 ERA and two complete games _ gave the front office a reason to believe in his future, the past two starts have raised concerns. He went three innings this past Sunday in Cincinnati, surrendering 10 hits and five runs, four earned.
Still, Nova will be among the strongest options in a weak market for free agent starting pitchers this winter. The Pirates offered him two contract offers in September, multiple sources said this week, but have not matched the Nova camp's original asking price of five years, $70 million.
Nova was tortured Saturday by misadventures of small ball and defensive miscues. The Nationals wore out their welcome with three runs in the first, then added three more in the fourth. Nova's command was spotty. He hit two batters and needed 69 pitches for four frames.
In the fourth, Danny Espinosa and pinch-hitter Brian Goodwin dropped back-to-back bunt singles. Francisco Cervelli fielded the second and threw the ball into right field when no one covered first base. Sean Rodriguez tried to get Espinosa at the plate on the ensuing grounder, but threw wildly. A third error occurred when Adam Frazier spoiled a double-play grounder by throwing high to second, resulting in no outs and another run across the plate. It was 6-1.
Nationals manager Dusty Baker planned for right-hander Joe Ross to throw no more than five innings in his second start back from the disabled list. Ross made it only half that far. He was lifted after 2 2/3 innings. He gave up one run on five hits and a walk, striking out four.
The Pirates' lone run was Josh Bell's third-inning solo shot, his third homer this season. Three of the offense's eight hits Saturday were from Jung Ho Kang, who doubled twice.
