Jake Mangum’s Grounding into Game-Ending Double Play Defines Nationals’ 10-Inning Win Over Pirates

In a tightly contested extra-inning affair on Thursday afternoon, the Washington Nationals secured an 8-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 10 innings, with the game’s decisive moment coming when Jake Mangum grounded into a game-ending 6-3 double play.

With the Pirates trailing 7-6 in the top of the tenth, Mangum came to bat with runners on first and third and one out. He grounded a ball to shortstop, initiating a double play that ended the inning and the game. The play was recorded as a 6-3 double play, meaning the ball was fielded by the shortstop (6) and thrown to first base (3) for two outs.

The Nationals had taken a one-run lead in the bottom of the tenth when James Wood delivered a two-out go-ahead RBI single off Pirates closer Dennis Santana, scoring automatic runner Jorbit Vivas. Washington had a chance to extend the lead but left runners on second and third when Brady House flew out to left field.

In the bottom of the inning, the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs after Konnor Griffin’s infield single. Orlando Ribalta then struck out Bryan Reynolds before inducing the game-ending grounder by Mangum to record his first career save.

The Nationals capitalized on four Pittsburgh errors, two of which directly led to six of Washington’s runs. The most costly mistake came in the fifth inning when Griffin mishandled a potential inning-ending double play grounder by Luis Garcia Jr., allowing the ball to bounce into right field and clearing the bases for a 3-0 Nationals lead.

Individually, Mangum led the Pirates with three hits in 15 at-bats. James Wood, Daylen Lile, and Drew Millas each recorded two hits for the Nationals, whereas Griffin, Brandon Lowe, and Nick Gonzales also contributed two-hit performances.

The win split the four-game series between the teams and improved the Nationals’ record in extra-inning games.