Pirates use massive sixth to clobber Nationals 16-5

Brandon Lowe had five RBIs for the second consecutive game to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 16-5 rout of the Washington Nationals on Monday night.

Lowe became the first Pirates player to drive in five runs in consecutive games since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.

The Pirates racked up 10 runs in the sixth inning on their way to a season-high total. It was the most runs in a game for Pittsburgh since Aug. 1 of last year in a 17-16 loss at Colorado.

Lowe finished with three hits, as did Bryan Reynolds, who totaled four RBIs to back up another strong start from Paul Skenes (3-1) and help the Pirates win for the ninth time in their past 12 games.

Oneil Cruz extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a pair of hits, including a two-run single that was part of the sixth-inning outburst. Cruz finished with three RBIs and three runs. Spencer Horwitz also had two hits, including a solo homer.

A solo home run in the first inning by CJ Abrams and Jacob Young's two-run homer in the seventh provided a couple of highlights for the Nationals, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Nasim Nunez also had a two-run single during a four-run seventh inning for the Nationals.

Skenes picked up his third win in as many starts. He struck out the first two batters of the game before surrendering Abrams' homer to right field on a 99-mph fastball.

That was the only run or hit Skenes would allow. He retired 16 of the next 17 batters he faced, including the final 10. Skenes struck out six and became the first Pirates pitcher in the modern era to reach 400 strikeouts in his first 59 career starts.

The Pirates plated four runs in the second off Nationals starter Cade Cavalli (0-1). Cruz drew a bases-loaded walk, and Lowe followed with a two-run single that scored Jake Mangum and Henry Davis. Cavalli was pulled after giving up an RBI single to Reynolds, leaving after 1 1/3 innings, and allowing those four runs on three hits and three walks.

With an already depleted bullpen, the Nationals tabbed right fielder Joey Wiemer to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he allowed Pittsburgh's final run.