Pirates activate Gerrit Cole for Saturday start at Nationals

Unfortunately the Pirates have dropped three in a row following a 6-0 defeat at Washington Saturday where nothing went well. The Nationals have won five straight games, including two over the Pirates following the All-Star break, and 13 of 17.

Washington Nationals’ Jayson Werth (28) steals second against Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Washington. Strasburg (13-0) has won 16 consecutive decisions dating to September, a franchise record for starting pitchers.

Cole lasted just four innings and allowed seven hits and five runs. Colon worked 5-2/3 innings and allowed three unearned runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two.

“I just didn’t execute enough pitches”, Cole said.

Drew doubles three times: Whenever Stephen Drew sees the field for the Nationals, good things usually happen.

NOTES: The start of the game was delayed one hour and 11 minutes by rain, which created a scenic rainbow beyond the right-field foul pole at game time…. Washington wasted little time scoring with single runs in the first and second innings plus three in the fourth for a 5-0 lead.

Up next: The Nationals and Pirates finish their series with a 1:35 p.m. first pitch.

Roark (9-5) allowed five singles with one walk and five strikeouts in his longest start of the season.

MARLINS 7, CARDINALS 6 (at St. Louis) – Miguel Rojas hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth to lift Miami. Jon Niese made his first appearance out of the bullpen, pitching two scoreless innings.

Second base has been a problematic position for years in Washington, mostly because Danny Espinosa and Anthony Rendon haven’t been able to stay healthy. Second baseman Stephen Drew had three doubles and one RBI in place of NL batting leader Daniel Murphy.

Mets All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes missed his third straight game with a strained right quadriceps.

Roark rarely faced trouble in recording his third win in four starts. Pittsburgh was held to six hits and a base on balls with Andrew McCutchen going 2-4. Through two games, they have one run, 10 hits and none for extra bases. “There’s nothing to walk out of here hanging our heads, because we had some balls hit pretty hard…”

Jeurys Familia, the last of five NY pitchers, worked a flawless ninth to post his 32nd save.

Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 2.77 ERA) returns from the DL and starts Saturday against Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (8-5, 3.01).

Update: The Nationals continue to keep the pressure on, and they continue to benefit from it. They scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to another double by Drew and then some awfully shaky defense from the Pirates infield.

“Do or die”, Harrison said. Well, that’s exactly what happened, as Murphy is day-to-day with a sore hamstring that he hurt playing in Tuesday’s game in San Diego. Polanco, out since July 8, is not expected to play Sunday, but Hurdle stated, “we’re optimistic” with his progress.

CUBS 6, RANGERS 0 (at Chicago) – Kyle Hendricks and four relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Addison Russell had a two-run single to key a five-run sixth inning for Chicago. Rookie Chad Kuhl makes his 4th career start when he takes the mound at Washington.