Pittsburgh Pirates’ Connor Joe, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Jack Suwinski, who also scored, during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against Washington Nationals on Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates bounced right back from their first loss and lowest-scoring game of the season by producing a four-run first inning with the help of Rowdy Tellez’s two-run single to send them on their way to a 7-4 victory over the Washington Nationals. Connor Joe contributed his first homer of the season Thursday as Pittsburgh improved to 6-1. It was a 400-foot, two-run shot in the fifth. Tellez, Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Michael A. Taylor each had multiple hits. Martín Pérez allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings. CJ Abrams homered for the Nationals, who are 2-4.