John Lannan's luck ran out after 21.1 IP as the Pittsburgh Pirates got to the Washington Nationals' 23-year old left-hander in the top of the third inning tonight and ended a scoreless inning streak that stretched all the way back to April 17th. The inning started with the Pirates' center fielder at bat:

"......Nate McLouth almost ends Lannan's scoreless streak with one swing, but it ends up bouncing off the wall in right, and McLouth almost gets thrown out at second by Kearns. Ryan Zimmerman throws out Freddy Sanchez, even after getting a bad hop to his backhand. Lannan walks Jason Bay. Ryan Doumit singles to center, McLouth scores to end Lannan's streak. 1-0 Pirates."

Lannan's night only got worse from there, as he somehow managed to throw 85 pitches in just 3.0 innings on the hill. 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 1 HR, as Lannan was chased without recording an out in the 3rd after going 7.0 scoreless in each of his last two starts:

"...A pitch in the dirt from Lannan allows Doumit to move up to second. Xavier Nady drops a fly ball in front of Lastings MIlledge to drive in Jason Bay. 2-0 Pirates. Doug Mientkiewicz grounds to short, but Lopez drops Guzman's toss to second, a run scores, and the runner's safe at second. 3-0 Pirates. Jose Bautista gets a hold of fastball and plants it in the artificial grass of the batter's eye in center. Three-run blast. 6-0 Pirates." 

Lannan ends the night...(L, 2-3, 3.74 ERA)

Catcher Paul Lo Duca, out since April 13th with a bruised hand, the result of a HBP, payed immediate dividends as he got the Nationals on the board in a pinch hitting appearance in place of Lannan in the bottom of the third:

"Paul Lo Duca pinch hits for Lannan...and Lo Duca hits a two-out single to center. Felipe Lopez drives one to center and over Nate McClouth's head, allowing Lo Duca to score from first, and the poor throw home allows Lopez to take third. 6-1 Pittsburgh after three."

Mike O'Connor takes over in the fourth, and gives up a run on a walk and two hits, to make it 7-1 Pittsburgh...

"Ryan Zimmerman lays down a bunt and legs out a single to lead off the fourth...only the second hit for the Nationa--(at which point several banks of Nationals Park's lights go out and bring the game to a halt...20 minutes later...)"

The Nationals make it a game for a short time after Zimmerman ignites a rally, as they pick up three runs off Pittsburgh lefty Phil Dumatrait, and it all starts with Lastings Milledge at bat as the lights come back up:

"Lastings Milledge doubles one hop and off the wall in left, Zimmerman stops at third. Austin Kearns walks to load the bases for Wily Mo Pena...who flies out deep enough to right to score Zimmerman. 7-2 Pirates. Wil "the Hero" Nieves rips an 0-1 pitch down the third base line. Two runs score. 7-4 Pirates after four."

Pirates' third baseman Jose Bautista was feasting on lefties today, and must have struck some fear into the heart of tomorrow's starter, Matt Chico, a third straight lefty, as Bautista gets hold of another offering in the Pirates' fourth:

"Jose Bautista puts a charge into a 3-1 pitch from O'Connor to give Pittsburgh a four-run lead at 8-4 after four and a half on Bautista's second dinger. Felipe Lopez singles to start the top of the fifth. Damaso Marte replaces Dumatrait, and gets Guzman, Zimmerman and Johnson to end the fifth."

Damaso Marte ends up claiming the win, his second of the season, (W, 2-0, 5.79 ERA) for two scoreless innings of work. Mike O'Connor stayed out for 3.2 innings, giving up 3 hits and 4 runs, with 3 walks, 3 K's, and Bautista's HR surrendered, and he set up some trouble as he exited the game:

"O'Connor issues his second walk of the inning to Jose Bautista with two outs in the seventh, and Nationals' Manager Manny Acta calls "Wild" Joe Hanrahan out of the pen. Two outs, two on, and Hanrahan's first pitch is "wild", runners advance to second and third. Chris Gomez slices a single to center. Two runs score. 10-4 Pirates after six and a half...Stand up and stretch..."

The Pirates add a run when a walk from Hanrahan is followed by a double by Jayson Bay, and the game ends with the score 11-4 Pittsburgh after Matt Capps comes on to end it in the ninth and retires Wil Nieves for the twenty-seventh out, which ends the second game of the four game series at Nationals Park. Lannan's scoreless inning streak and the Nationals four-game winning streak both come to an end, and tomorrow it's the Homestead Grays turn to try to steal another game on the homestand from the visiting Homestead Grays...

Nationals now 12-18.