Metroplex bracket: 2019 Nationals sweep 2019 Pirates

Game One: Nationals 8, Pirates 5
WP: Guerra (1-0)
LP: Holmes (0-1)
HR. Me Cabrera (1), Soto (1), Rendon (1)

Game Two: Nationals 7, Pirates 3
WP: Strasburg (1-0)
LP: Tr Williams (0-1)
HR: Suzuki (1)

Game Three: Nationals 12, Pirates 2
WP: Corbin (1-0)
LP: Archer (0-1)
HR: Soto (2), Kendrick (1), Rendon (2)

Game Four: Nationals 4, Pirates 3 (12 innings)
WP: Ross (1-0)
LP: Kela (0-1)
Save: Doolittle (1)
HR: Robles (1)

The Nationals outhomered the Pirates 7-1 in the sweep, but one Washington win was a walk-off win and another required extra innings.

Game One, played in Nationals Park, was the walk-off: Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer off Clay Holmes, who had struck out the side in the eighth inning. Juan Soto's homer in the first had staked Max Scherzer to a 4-0 lead, and he turned a 4-2 lead over to the bullpen after six innings, but the Pirates managed to even the score in the eighth as Melky Cabrera scored from first on Elias Diaz' two-out double.

The Nationals overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second game with a five-run outburst in the fifth inning. Washington got a triple from Victor Robles in the rally along with three walks, three singles and a hit batter. Kurt Suzuki, subbing for the injured Yan Gomes, homered in the eighth to widen the margin.

The series shifted to PNC Park, where the Nationals feasted off Chris Archer in Game Three. Rendon singled in a run in the thrid and hit a grand slam in in the fourth; he picked up another RBI in the ninth on a ground out. Soto and Howie Kendrick hit back to back homers in the sixth off Kyle Crick.

The Nats needed 12 innings to complete the sweep in Game Four. Victor Robles homered and doubled off Pittsburgh starter Steve Brault, scoring two runs and driving in two as the Nats carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth. Pittsburgh tied it with a pair of doubles off Fernando Rodney in the eighth. Joe Ross kept the Pirates off the board in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, long enough for Rendon to double in a run in the top of the 12th. Sean Doolittle allowed a leadoff single and a steal in the bottom of the inning, but then struck out the next three men to end the series.

Player availability: Washington will have all available for the second round

Projected rotation: Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez-(Scherzer)-(Strasburg)-(Corbin)