The Pirates came into D.C. riding the high of a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins. They exit it with their second series victory and a record of 6-1 entering their first homestand of the season.
Game one began with Marco Gonzales giving five innings of one run ball put himself in line for the win while McKenzie Gore gave up three over five and a third with six strikeouts.
All that was erased when catcher Riley Adams pulled a fastball from Roansy Contreras to tie it up in his second inning of work.
The Pirates teed off the Nationals relievers for five runs over the final two innings en route to an 8-4 victory that concluded when Aroldis Chapman was brought in to get the final out and picked up the save.