The Pittsburgh Pirates' comeback bid fell just short in a tense 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on Tuesday night, with a pivotal late-game decision casting a shadow over their rally.

The Nationals wasted no time, jumping on Pirates starter Mitch Keller for three runs in the first inning. CJ Abrams, who was a thorn in Pittsburgh's side all night, contributed an RBI single in the opening frame.

Brandon Lowe answered quickly for the Pirates, launching a solo homer in the bottom of the first to cut into the deficit. It was his fourth home run in the last three games, showcasing a red-hot bat.

Abrams struck again in the third, taking Keller deep for a solo shot to push the Nationals' lead to 4-1. Washington added another run in the fourth, but the Pirates' offense began to chip away.

Marcell Ozuna notched his first RBI as a Pirate with a double in the fourth, and a Nick Gonzales groundout brought Pittsburgh within two. The comeback gained serious momentum in the fifth when Joey Bart crushed his first homer of the season, a solo shot that just cleared the left-field wall to make it a 5-4 game.

The Pirates' best chance to tie or take the lead came in the seventh. After loading the bases with one out, manager Don Kelly made a curious move, pinch-hitting Nick Yorke for the hot-hitting Brandon Lowe against a new left-handed reliever. The strategy backfired instantly, as Cionel Pérez induced a crushing inning-ending double play on a 3-1 pitch.

Pittsburgh threatened once more in the ninth, putting the tying run in scoring position, but Nationals closer Gus Varland shut the door, sealing the 5-4 victory for Washington. The Pirates' fight was evident, but the one-run loss leaves them pondering what might have been after a critical managerial gamble didn't pay off.