WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- Andrew McCutchen homered in both the first and sixth innings Thursday and Pittsburgh pitching recorded 14 strikeouts in the Pirates' 5-3 win over Washington.
McCutchen's solo shots were sandwiched around a two-run blast by Rod Barajas in the fourth, giving Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Washington scored three times in that inning, two of the runs coming on a single by Ryan Zimmerman, but Tony Watson came on for the Pirates in relief of starter James McDonald and recorded the final out of the frame with the potential tying run on third.
McDonald (3-2) did not allow a hit through five innings, but then gave up three three runs on four hits in the sixth. He struck out 11.
Three different relievers added a strikeout each, including one from Joel Hanrahan to end the game after Washington had put two men on base in the ninth. It was Hanrahan's eighth save.
The loss went to Jordan Zimmerman (2-4), who surrendered four runs on seven hits in six innings.
