How did the Pirates score seven runs without an extra-base hit?

The ball barely left the infield, the temperature kept climbing, and Pittsburgh kept finding ways to score. On an Independence Day afternoon at Nationals Park, Konnor Griffin stole home, Tyler Callihan dropped a bunt, and the Pirates turned 11 singles and patient at-bats into a 7-1 win over Washington. The result pulled Pittsburgh back to 45-45 and evened the series at one game apiece.

How Events Unfolded

Griffin set the tone in the first inning. After reaching on a leadoff single, stealing second and moving to third, the rookie shortstop broke for home when Bryan Reynolds attempted to steal second. Nationals catcher Drew Millas threw down, shortstop CJ Abrams made an off-balance return throw, and Griffin scored head-first for a 1-0 lead. He became the first Pirate to steal home since Andrew McCutchen on April 14, 2024.

Washington answered immediately when James Wood hit Braxton Ashcraft's first pitch 428 feet for a solo home run. Ashcraft did not unravel. He struck out the rest of the side and finished with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings while allowing one run on six hits and two walks.

The decisive inning came in the second. Nick Gonzales singled, Jake Mangum was hit by a pitch and Callihan laid down a bunt to load the bases. Henry Davis followed with a 38.1 mph infield dribbler, Brandon Lowe drove in two with an 86.9 mph single, and Esmerlyn Valdez added another run with a 76.5 mph bloop. A 5-1 lead had arrived without a single extra-base hit.

Pittsburgh added two more in the eighth on a Gonzales single and a bases-loaded walk to Davis. The small-ball approach produced seven runs even though the Pirates failed to record an extra-base hit for the first time since April 25, ending a 62-game streak.

Critical Details

The contrast was sharp because Pittsburgh entered the game with the fourth-highest slugging percentage in MLB and the second-best OPS. This was not a team forced into small ball by a season-long lack of power. The Pirates simply took what the game offered: soft contact, walks, aggressive running and pressure on Washington.

The conditions added another layer. The temperature was 93 degrees at the 11 a.m. first pitch and reached 100 for the second consecutive game. Long innings mattered in that heat, and Pittsburgh repeatedly forced Washington to stay on the field. The Nationals used left-hander Carson Palmquist as an opener before turning to Zack Littell, while later bullpen trouble helped the Pirates add insurance runs.

Small ball

An approach built on contact, bunts, stolen bases and advancing runners rather than home runs.

Extra-base hit

A double, triple or home run. Pittsburgh scored seven without any of them.

Whiff

A swing and miss. Ashcraft generated 15.

Reactions & Responses

Griffin said the steal developed as Reynolds drew attention toward second base.

That was fun. Bryan took off, and as soon as they threw it, I tried to get a good read and tried to get us on the board.

Manager Don Kelly focused on the full offensive picture rather than any one play.

When you score seven runs without an extra-base hit, there’s a lot of other things going on in the midst of that, a lot of good baserunning, too.

Ashcraft's response to Wood's opening homer drew similar praise. The right-hander retired the next three batters by strikeout and later used a double play and ground balls to limit further damage. His composure turned an early jolt into a one-run outing.

Putting It in Perspective

The box score was unusual even by Pittsburgh's recent standards. The Pirates had not won with at least seven runs and zero extra-base hits since May 31, 2019, when they collected 13 singles in a 9-4 victory over Milwaukee. Saturday's win also extended a run of four consecutive games with double-digit hits; Pittsburgh had 50 hits over that span.

Lowe reached 60 RBIs, the most by a Pirates second baseman since Neil Walker had 71 in 2015 and the highest total among MLB second basemen. Valdez extended his hitting streak to nine games and has hit safely in 11 of 12, with 12 RBIs in that stretch.

Ashcraft improved to 9-3, lowered his ERA to 3.24 and reached 122 strikeouts. He and Paul Skenes, who had 119, became only the second Pirates pair to top 100 strikeouts before the All-Star break, joining Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole in 2015. The ninth win for Ashcraft also marked his fourth straight victory.

Looking Ahead

Pittsburgh is back at .500 at 45-45, the series with Washington is level, and the offense has produced four straight games with at least 10 hits. Ashcraft is lined up to pitch at home next weekend against the Brewers, carrying a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 122-to-25 strikeout-to-walk line through 108.1 innings.

The bigger question is whether Pittsburgh can keep pairing power with the adaptable offense shown at Nationals Park. Every steal, bunt, soft single and walk made the next plate appearance harder for Washington.

FAQ

Who won the Pirates vs. Nationals game?

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 7-1 and improved to 45-45.

Did the Pirates hit any extra-base hits?

No. Pittsburgh scored seven runs on 11 hits without a double, triple or home run.

Who stole home for the Pirates?

Konnor Griffin stole home in the first inning, becoming the first Pirate to do so since Andrew McCutchen on April 14, 2024.

How did Braxton Ashcraft pitch?

Ashcraft allowed one run on six hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, struck out seven and improved to 9-3.