Round 2 - Nats come back from 0-2 deficit to win series over Bucs in 5

GAME 1 - National Park
Karstens vs Marquis
Pirates 15, Nationals 9

The Bucs battered Staten Island native Jason Marquis from pillar to post.  Marquis was gone after giving up 7 runs (6 earned) in just 1 1/3 innings of work.  As evidenced by the score the 5 relievers who took his place didn't do much better.  The Bucs looked like the 1970's Lumber Company with this 18 hit barrage.  Leftfielder Alex Presley had Washington hurlers "All Shook Up" with his 4 for 5 day.  Presley scored 5 runs and had 4 hits to go along with his 2 homers and 2 doubles.  Garrett Jones and Neil Walker complimented Presley with 3 hit apiece.
Pirates lead series 1-0

GAME 2
Morton vs Zimmermann
Pirates 4, Nationals 3

Catcher Michael McKenry's 1 out double scored Presley to cut Washington's lead to 2-1.  Brandon Wood followed that up with an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.  Wood would score on Cedeno's fly to deep center to put the Bucs up 3-2.  In the 3rd a Neil Walker Sac fly plated Andrew McCutchen to make it 4-2.  Starter Charlie Morton would recover from his rocky start (2 runs in the 1st) to shut the Nats out for the next 5 innings before giving way to the pen.  Two scoreless innings by Jose Veras got the Bucs to closer Joel Hanrahan, who made things interesting.  After getting Bernadina to ground out weakly to second to start the inning Hanrahan gave up a triple to Ian Desmond who hit a 1 hopper off the left field wall.  Rick Ankiel grounded to first to score Desmond to make it a 1 run ball game, but the Bucs gladly exchanged the run for an out with 1 out to go.  Zimmerman lined out to right to end it and the Cinderella Bucs now had a commanding 2-0 series lead heading home to PNC.
Pirates lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - PNC Park
Lannan vs McDonald
Nationals 3, Pirates 1

Down two games to none Washington's season was clearly on the shoulders on John Lannan, who did what he needed to do by giving up just 1 run on 3 hits in 7 strong innings of work.  Washington posted a 3 spot in the top of the 4th to make it 3-0.  Ryan Zimmerman led off the inning with a 398 feet solo shot to left center to make it 1-0.  Two outs later left fielder Laynce Nix hit a 2 run shot to make it 3-0.  The Bucs made it 3-1 in the top of the 7th when Ryan Ludwick scored on a Chase d'Arnaud ground out.  Pittsburgh would eventually load the bases with 2 out.  Lannan now faced Neil Walker in what would become the turning point of the game.  If Walker gets a hit the game is tied.  If he doesn't Lannan is done for the day after getting out of a big jam.  Walker grounded to Zimmerman at third forcing Tabata easily as Zimmerman picked up the ball and stepped on the bag at the same time.  Pittsburgh blew a golden opportunity.  Washington held tight with Craig Stammen pitching a perfect 8th and Drew Storen pitching a scoreless 9th to keep Washington's season alive for another day.
Pirates lead series 2-1

GAME 4
Gorzelanny vs Maholm
Nationals 9, Pirates 1
A 5-1 Nats lead became a 9-1 blowout after Washington scored 4 runs in the top of the 8th.  Rick Ankiel and Mike Morse both had 3 RBI days to pace the resurgent Nationals offense.  Everyone starter, including pitcher Tom Gorzelanny had a hit as the Nats posted 15 safeties in all.  Gorzelanny gave up just 1 run in 6 innings on the hill.  Johnny Gomes hit a 2 run shot in the 6th as the Nats clawed their way back to tie the series.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5
Karstens vs Hernandez
Nationals 7, Pirates 1

Not a lot of drama in this decisive game 5.  After going up 2-0 in the series he Bucs lost their momentum with 2 straight losses to the Nats.  By game 5 the Bucs knew their Cinderella run was just about over.  Up 3-1 the Nats posted a 4 spot in the bottom of the 6th to wipe away all hope for the Steel-town 9.  Washington had a well balanced attack support veteran Livan Hernandez (6 1/3 IP), who gave up just 1 run, while scattering 8 hits.  Washington got homers from Ankiel, Morse and Espinosa in this series clincher.
Nationals win series 3-2