The Pirates took two of three from Washington this weekend, and they’re heading into the All-Star break with some momentum.

Pittsburgh dropped the opener Friday night 9-5 but bounced back in a big way. Saturday, Braxton Ashcraft was brilliant again — five-and-two-thirds innings, seven strikeouts, one earned run — as the Bucs won 7-1 behind thirteen hits. Sunday’s finale was even bigger — an 11-5 blowout, with Brandon Lowe smashing a home run and driving in three, Nick Gonzales going three for five, and Bryan Reynolds also going deep. Gregory Soto picked up the win in relief.

And off the field, Pittsburgh got some hardware news Saturday night — Paul Skenes was named to the National League All-Star team for the third consecutive season, joining Rip Sewell and Elroy Face as the only Pirates pitchers ever to earn three straight All-Star selections. Skenes carries a three-sixty-two ERA and one-hundred-nineteen strikeouts through eighteen starts this season. The All-Star Game is July fourteenth at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, live on FOX.

The Pirates now host Atlanta starting Tuesday night at PNC Park.

Original reporting: WESB (Bradford) — read the source article.