McCutchen hits three homers in rout

Baseball superstar McCutchen hit three home runs, the last resulting in a curtain call, as the Pirates beat the Nationals, 11-6, in front of 26,855 at PNC Park. Pittsburgh has now won four in a row against Washington in Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchen's first-inning long ball over the wall in the left-field corner was only a glimpse of what was to come on Saturday night.

"Just one of those days," McCutchen said. "Every baseball player has one of those days. Just one of those days where everything worked, everything went your way and you got your pitches -- and I was able to hit them. I was able to get 'em out. It's just a day that I know I won't forget. Just a day I need to remember."

McCutchen went deep in the first, fourth and sixth innings, driving in six runs to tie Craig Monroe for the most RBIs in a game by a Pittsburgh player this season. Monroe drove in his six on April 18 against Atlanta.

The rookie outfielder, who had four hits, was the first Pirates player to hit three homers in game since Aramis Ramirez did it on April 8, 2001, at Houston. McCutchen also became the first Bucco to hit a trio of long balls in one game at home since Darnell Coles back on Sept. 30, 1987.

"He's got tremendous bat speed, and he's got the ability to drive the ball," Pirates manager John Russell said. "The good thing about Andrew, he works the count, he uses the whole field, he's been driving balls to right-center. But he does have the ability, if a mistake's made, that he's got the kind of bat speed and power to drive the ball over the wall."

McCutchen's first homer was the first time the Pirates have hit a long ball to lead off the first inning since May 31, when Nate McLouth did it against the Astros.

McCutchen then showed his speed with a bunt single without a throw in the third to post his 20th multihit game in his 51st game of the season. No. 2 hitter Lastings Milledge followed the bunt hit with a two-run double.

Milledge has four RBIs in only two games with the Pirates after posting just one RBI in 24 at-bats earlier this season with the Nationals.

McCutchen followed in the next inning with his second dinger, a two-run blast that also scored Brandon Moss.

The center fielder's offensive barrage didn't end there, however, as he hit three-run homer in the sixth, again bringing in Moss. After McCutchen rounded the bases and went to the dugout, he came out for the curtain call.

"I don't look at myself as a power hitter," McCutchen said. "I look at myself as a person that just drives the ball in the gaps -- hit line drives. That's the way I work off of."

McCutchen went 4-for-5, scored four times, and now has six hits in the past two days. He also got a standing ovation before his final at-bat of the game in the eighth. Although he grounded into a double play, applause erupted once again.

"McCutchen was really good," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. "He is going to be a force to deal with."

The offensive barrage helped starter Virgil Vasquez, who won his second game of the season -- and career. The righty gave up three runs on nine hits in five innings.

Despite the win, Vasquez was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after the game, a move he said he sensed. Pitcher Steven Jackson will be recalled on Sunday.

Vasquez's first-inning struggles continued Saturday, as he gave up two runs on three hits in the frame. Four straight batters reached in the inning, although it could've been worse. But Vasquez yielded just one more run after the bases were loaded with just one out.

In seven starts this season, Vasquez has given up 12 runs in the first innings of starts, which is eight more than in any other inning.

"I'll be ready to come back whenever they need me," Vasquez said. "That's all I can do, is just be prepared. I wasn't as dominant as I expected myself to be. I expect a lot out of myself -- expect almost perfection. I'll go down there, just keep preparing, keep doing what I do and work on a few things and come back ready to go, if it's in the rotation or in the bullpen."

The right-hander did rebound after the first, however, as he stranded two runners with no out in the third thanks to a double play. He stranded two more runners in the fourth and fifth.