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Game 136: Nats Join Exclusive Club by Beating Morton

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Just kidding about that headline. It wasn’t all that bad. But that’s relative: Charlie Morton lost again. He gave up six runs – just two earned – in 3-2/3 innings.

Morton shot himself in the foot early on. Mad Nyjer Morgan led off with a single and moved up on an errant pick off throw. He scored on a grounder from Ryan Zimmerman. Things got out of hand in the fourth. Adam Dunn led off with a solo homer. Roger Bernadina and Michael Morse singled. Garrett Jones misplayed a grounder from Adam Kennedy. All were safe and Bernadina scored. Rookie catcher Wilson Ramos singled to load the bases. But Morton got opposing starter Jason Marquis to ground into a force that retired Morse at home. Morgan whiffed. But with two gone, Ian Desmond singled in one and Ryan Zimmerman singled in two. That was all for Morton. Daniel McCutchen relieved to get the final out of the inning.

The Pirates got one back in the form of a Pedro Alvarez solo homer off Marquis in the home half of the fourth. That was all Pittsburgh would get off of Marquis.

Joe Martinez made his Pirates debut in relief of McCutchen. He gave up two unearned runs in the sixth with help from a two out error on Alvarez. Zimmerman and Dunn provided the run scoring knocks.

Morton gave up eight hits and struck out one in 3-2/3. Marquis went six innings and allowed just the solo blast from Alvarez. He struck out two, gave up six hits and walked none.

The Good
Welcome Joe Martinez. Three innings and no earned runs in relief. Two unearned runs scored.

Neil Walker had three hits. Jose Tabata and Anrew McCutchen each had two. Tabata was HBP in the first inning but appears to be fine.

The Bad
Losing a series to a last place club.

Bucs drew no walks.

The Rest
Morton is 0-2 against Washington in his career. Marquis is 11-6 against Pittsburgh, marking his career best in wins against a single club.

This was the ninth time in 2010 that Pittsburgh hitters failed to reach base on a walk.

Bucs one through three hitters went 7-14 yet failed to score a run or drive in a run.

This was the fourth four (or more) RBI game for Zimmerman in 2010.

Dunn’s homer was his 350th career blast. Dunn’s career HR pace is slightly better than what Manny Ramirez was doing through roughly the same number of at bats.

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