WASHINGTON — The ball was flying on a scorching Friday in D.C. It didn’t seem to fly as far for the Pirates.

The Washington Nationals hit five home runs, including two each from Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile, in a 9-5 win against the Pirates on Friday night at Nationals Park. They hit three in the first three innings against Mitch Keller, who took the loss (6-6) and saw his season ERA go above 5.

Game-time temperature was 100 degrees.

The Nationals had seven hits against Keller in the first three innings. As for the homers: Garcia hit a solo shot into the right-field bullpen in the first inning; Lile’s solo shot narrowly cleared the center-field wall in the second; then Jose Tena hit a mammoth two-run shot to center in the third.

The Nationals hit for the cycle in the third inning, as James Wood tripled, Lile doubled and CJ Abrams singled to go with Tena’s 434-foot blast.

Keller managed to get through six innings and may have pitched the seventh if the Pirates’ offense didn’t have a lengthy top half. However, he allowed more than eight hits for the fifth time in his last seven starts. He’s allowed 35 runs (30 earned) in 36 innings in that span.

Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin allowed one run on four hits and a walk in five innings. The Pirates scored just one run until the ninth, when they combined for four runs on five doubles to make the scoreline look more respectable.

Utility man Tyler Callihan recorded the final two outs for the Pirates in the bottom of the eighth. He allowed a single and walked two but did not allow a run. He has a 0.00 ERA through three appearances.

It was over when …

The Pirates couldn’t come through in the seventh. Justin Lawrence, designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier this season and now with the Nationals, got two quick outs, then gave up a ground-rule double to Jared Triolo and allowed him to easily steal third. Lawrence was rattled and walked the next two batters to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, but right-hander Clayton Beeter came in to strike out Bryan Reynolds and end the threat.

On the mound

Keller had thrown consecutive quality starts before Friday. He has a 7.50 ERA in his last seven starts and a 5.90 ERA in his last 15.

Isaac Mattson allowed four runs, on two two-run homers, in 1 1/3 innings in relief. Garcia hit his second homer in the seventh, then Lile added an encore.

At the plate

The Pirates had 13 hits and went 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position but left 11 on base. They were 0 for 4, leaving 10 on base, before the double-heavy ninth.

Esmerlyn Valdez went 3 for 5 with a double and two singles, extending his hitting streak to eight. Jake Mangum singled twice and stole two bases. Konnor Griffin reached three times, on two singles and a walk, and added a stolen base. The ninth-inning doubles came from Triolo, Brandon Lowe, Reynolds, Valdez and Nick Gonzales.

The Pirates are now 5-17 against left-handed starters this year.

Bucs bites

— Right-hander Wilber Dotel threw live on the field before the game, facing Billy Cook and Tyler Callihan and throwing roughly 20 pitches. Manager Don Kelly said he hadn’t yet received a report from Bill Murphy, but said it “seems like everything went positively.”

— First baseman Spencer Horwitz (left hamstring strain) had his rehab transferred to Florida. Kelly had no updates to share on when a rehab stint may begin or when Horwitz may return to the majors.

Up next

It’s Saturday morning baseball, as the Pirates and Nationals will play at 11:05 a.m. on the Fourth of July. Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (8-3, 3.33 ERA) will face Nationals right-hander Zack Littell (7-6, 5.29).

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