WASHINGTON — After Friday night’s loss to the Washington Nationals, Don Kelly stressed that the Pittsburgh Pirates needed more from their starting rotation.

“We need them big time,” Kelly said.

Come Saturday morning, Braxton Ashcraft received that message.

In a Fourth of July matchup that started at 11:05 a.m. ET, Ashcraft allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings to lead the Pirates to a 7-1 victory at Nationals Park. Ashcraft’s first pitch was hit into the third deck by James Wood, but the next 93 helped result in seven strikeouts and a fairly stress-free win.

Ashcraft called the first pitch of the game “a tone-setter,” yet reiterated that “one run doesn’t kill you.”

“You have to score one to win a ballgame regardless,” Ashcraft said. “ ... That just happens. It’s part of the game.”

Nick Gonzales went 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. The Pirates had 11 hits, all singles, but stole four bases and went 6 for 15 with runners in scoring position.

“I thought we had really good, consistent at-bats throughout the whole order,” Kelly said. “ ... When you score seven runs without an extra-base hit, there's a lot of other things that go on in the midst of that.”

The Pirates took the lead in the top of the first on a rare double steal. Konnor Griffin and Bryan Reynolds singled to put runners on the corners, and with two outs, Reynolds broke for second and slowed before the bag. Nationals catcher Drew Millas threw to second, where shortstop CJ Abrams was too far behind the bag to tag Reynolds out, and Griffin broke for home and beat Abrams’ throw.

Griffin doesn’t remember the last time he stole home.

“That was fun,” Griffin said. “Bryan took off and as soon as they threw it, I tried to get a good read and tried to get us on the board.”

The Pirates did most of their damage in the second. The Nationals used lefty Carson Palmquist as an opener, hoping to slow the Pirates’ lefties, but Kelly made no changes to his typical lineup. Palmquist allowed a Gonzales single, hit Jake Mangum, then Tyler Callihan reached on a bunt single before Washington turned to previously scheduled starter Zack Littell with the bases loaded.

Littell wasn’t able to strand the runners. Henry Davis had an RBI infield single (originally ruled as an error), then Brandon Lowe brought in two with a single and Esmerlyn Valdez extended his hitting streak to nine with an RBI knock.

Ashcraft largely cruised from there. He responded to Wood’s homer by striking out five in a row. While he allowed six hits, he also induced two inning-ending double plays.

The Pirates tacked on two in the seventh with an RBI single from Gonzales and Davis’ bases loaded walk. Yohan Ramirez, Mason Montgomery, Dennis Santana and Cam Sanders combined to finish the game.

It was over when …

Ramirez and Montgomery kept the Nationals scoreless in the seventh. Ramirez walked the first two batters of the frame, but got Nasim Nunez to ground into a double play before issuing yet another walk to Wood. Montgomery came in to face lefty Luis Garcia Jr., but struck out pinch-hitter Andres Chaparro instead.

On the mound

Ashcraft finished with 15 whiffs, including six on his slider. His fastball was clocked as high as 99.3 mph.

He said he’d spent the week before the game preparing his body for the early start. Ashcraft got to sleep early on Friday night, woke up at 5 a.m., then arrived at Nationals Park at 6:45 a.m.

“This whole week, woke up earlier and earlier [and] day-to-day, tried to rest as much as I could,” Ashcraft said. “Yesterday everything was geared toward getting up early today, being awake for 11 a.m. Ends up working out for us.”

At the plate

The Pirates combined for 11 hits, with eight different players tallying at least one. Mangum was the lone Pirate without a hit, but he reached twice, stole a base and scored.

Reynolds singled twice. Callihan’s bunt single was particularly well-received in the clubhouse, while Griffin was pleased Lowe could follow his bases-loaded strikeout with a two-run single.

“We just pick each other up,” Griffin said. “It’s a really good group. We’re learning a lot and we’re making good strides right now.”

Bucs bites

— Before the game, the Pirates recalled right-hander Hunter Stratton from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed lefty Evan Sisk on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Kelly expects to learn more about Sisk’s injury once the Pirates return to Pittsburgh. Sisk has a 2.23 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings, while Stratton has a 3.60 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 Triple-A innings this year.

— The forecast called for a high temperature of 101 degrees in Washington. It “only” got up to 99 (with a feels like temperature of 103) after the early start.

— With the hot temps, the Nationals’ bullpen cart got some usage. Both Santana and Ramirez chose to take the cart to the mound instead of making the run from the outfield.

— The double steal in the first was the Pirates’ first steal of home since April 4, 2024, when Jared Triolo stole second and Andrew McCutchen stole home in Philadelphia.

Up next

The Pirates and Nationals will play for the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.62 ERA) will face Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli (5-4, 3.69).

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