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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bryan Reynolds hit a career-high three homers and drove in six runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Wednesday.
"I think Bryan Reynolds carried us to a win tonight," said Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton, whose Pirates ended a five-game losing streak. "We kind of jumped on his shoulders."
Reynolds had a two-run homer in the first inning off starter Paolo Espino and a solo drive in the sixth off Carl Edwards Jr. (2-2). Edwards exited with two runners on base in the seventh, giving way to Kyle Finnegan.
After Ke'Bryan Hayes struck out, Reynolds launched Finnegan's elevated sinker into the visitors' bullpen in left-center for a three-run homer that put the Pirates up 8-6. It was Pittsburgh's only hit in 18 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the series.
"I guess it feels kind of surreal," Reynolds said. "It was a good day at the plate."
Reynolds struck out swinging in the ninth when he came up with a chance to tie the major league record of four home runs in a game. But the six RBIs are a career high for Reynolds, who became the second Pirates player to homer three times in a game this season (Jack Suwinski did it June 19).
Reynolds is hitting .337 (34 of 101) with 19 RBIs this month and eight of his 15 home runs have come in June.
Daniel Vogelbach also homered for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates denied Washington its first three-game home sweep of Pittsburgh since June 14-16, 2021. Yadiel Hernandez homered for the Nationals, who stranded 10 runners and had won three in a row and six of eight.
Chase De Jong (3-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Rookie Yerry De Los Santos worked a perfect ninth for his first career save.
"First professional save in a situation where we've lost five games in a row, I give Yerry a ton of credit," Shelton said. "He stayed probably a lot calmer than I was."
Pittsburgh scored its fourth run in unusual fashion. With one out in the fifth inning and the score tied at 3, Hoy Park was on second and Suwinski was on third. Hayes lined to Washington first baseman Josh Bell as both runners took off. Bell threw to third baseman Ehire Adrianza, who tagged Park and then stepped on the base.