WASHINGTON — Pirates rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler turns 23 Sunday.
He started celebrating one day earlier.
Chandler, making his second major league start, took a perfect game into the sixth inning to help the Pirates snap a seven-game losing streak with a 5-1 win against the Washington Nationals on Saturday. He allowed a run and two hits over six innings, striking out seven without a walk while throwing 81 pitches.
“Unbelievable,” manager Don Kelly said. “Held the velocity all the way through. The intent with which he threw every pitch and the ability to mix it up. Throwing 100-plus and still able to go to the changeup and slider effectively for strikes. Just pitched really awesome.”
Chandler allowed a leadoff single to Dylan Crews to start the sixth, and Crews later scored on