PITTSBURGH — Matt Wieters struck out to end the game and walked away slowly, his black bat in his right hand.
Mark Reynolds, who had been on deck as the possible tying run, took the weighted donut off his bat and shuffled a few feet into the Nationals first-base dugout and towards the quiet clubhouse.
As fireworks went off in center field at scenic PNC Park, on the banks of the Allegheny River, the Nationals were left to ponder another wasted series against a losing team after a 2-0 setback to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon before 21,083 fans and those watching on Facebook.