WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Pirates made the unusual move on Friday of challenging back-to-back neighborhood plays at second base on Wednesday in the first inning of the game.
They got the first one overturned, but the second call stood, leaving manager Clint Hurdle without a challenge for the rest of the game.
He stood by the decision, feeling that the Pirates needed to push aggressively when they got an opportunity against Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
“You’ve got to push the envelope sometimes,” Hurdle said. “It’s very rarely you put the barrel to them and knock them out of the game.