The Nationals disappointed a sellout crowd with an 8-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in their home opener on Monday.
After a rocky start from pitcher MacKenzie Gore, the Nationals tied the game up in the seventh, but the Pirates opened the floodgates in the eighth inning.
Pirates first baseman Connor Joe started the onslaught with a double that scored former Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor. Pittsburgh added another four runs before fielding the final out.
Gore made his first start of the season for Washington, earning a no-decision after allowing three runs and recording six strikeouts before he was pulled in the sixth. Reliever Robert Garcia was credited with the loss.
It was an up-and-down outing for the 25-year-old Gore, who settled down after allowing two runs in the second inning, sitting down nine consecutive batters following a mound visit. His 98-mph fastball scorched several Pirates, but the East Carolina product struggled with command as he hit a pair of batters.
Nationals fans could feel a glimmer of hope in the seventh inning when catcher Riley Adams belted a 427-foot home run into left field to tie the game.
SEE ALSO: LOVERRO: An opening day with something new in the air: Hope
Rookie third baseman Trey Lipscomb provided a silver lining for sore Nationals fans. The Maryland native racked up two hits and scored a run in his first appearance in the District.
“My debut was special for me. Being able to play in front of my hometown city is even better,” the 2022 third-round pick said before the game.
The struggles started early for Gore and the Nationals.
Pittsburgh opened up the second inning with a double from Henry Davis and a single from Oneil Cruz. Then, the runs began. After a standing ovation from fans, Taylor tipped his cap and sent a sacrifice fly into left field.
Pirates starting pitcher Marco Gonzales tossed five innings of one-run baseball, but reliever Roansy Contreras earned the win. Closer Aroldis Chapman notched his first save of the season for Pittsburgh.
With the victory, the Pirates extended their season-opening winning streak to five games.
The rebuilding Nationals fell to 1-3 with the loss. The series will continue at Nationals Park on Wednesday.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.