The lead
July 3, 2026 - Washington - Luis García Jr. paced the offense at 14 hitting FP, and the Washington Nationals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 at Nationals Park, per the Associated Press recap on CBS Sports.
How the game turned
Garcia Jr.'s bat keyed a Nationals offense that built a lead Pittsburgh could not erase. The Pirates scored five times but fell four runs short at Nationals Park.
Pitching and matchup notes
Nationals pitching limited Pittsburgh to five runs while Garcia Jr. and the lineup added insurance at home.
Bats that changed the board
Garcia Jr.'s 14 hitting FP paced the offense. AthX Engine graded Washington at 16 team FP on the Thursday card.
AthX Engine fantasy angle
AthX Engine rewards home power when one bat stacks production behind a staff that holds a division rival in check. Garcia Jr.'s 14 FP registers on the daily hitting board, separate from dynamic pricing.
What comes next
The Nationals and Pirates played the series finale Friday in Washington.
*Sources: MLB.com schedule, CBS Sports/AP recap, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*
Ready to trade Nationals 9, Pirates 5: Garcia Jr. Fourteen Hit FP at Nationals Park?
Download the AthX Android app, or sign up on the web. Trade player and team shares with low 1–4% fees and performance-linked pricing.
Launch bonus ends April 30 · 2026 MLB launch window
Earn up to $500 in bonus player shares as an eligible new account — fund with qualifying monthly deposits (terms apply).
Web signup: https://getathx.com/signup
Double up: referrals + launch promo
Refer a friend before April 30 — when they fund with $100+, you can both earn bonus shares through the referral program, in addition to the limited-time up to $500 in bonus player shares launch offer (terms apply).
Explore AthX trading pages
Browse searchable directories or jump to featured player and team pages (stats, projections, FAQs).