WASHINGTON -- The Pittsburgh Pirates werent in the mood to celebrate after Andrew McCutchen hit two home runs in a 6-5 win over Washington. The victory, accomplished Monday night against the skidding Nationals, was meaningless in comparison to the ramifications that could come from a ninth-inning pitch thrown by All-Star closer Jason Grilli. After the pitch, the right-hander left with forearm tightness -- leaving his manager and teammates somberly hoping for the best. "Its never good to see somebody in pain, let alone your All-Star closer," starting pitcher Charlie Morton said. Grilli entered in the ninth and gave up a two-run homer to Jayson Werth before leaving with an apparent arm injury after getting two outs. "Pretty much he threw the ball, and his reaction was, he just grimaced a little bit," Pirates catcher Russell Martin said. "It seemed like he was in a little bit of pain. It just looked like his forearm was bugging him. A definite blow. Hopefully its not as severe as it can be and is just something minor." Grilli was not made available to the media after the game. Manager Clint Hurdle tried to remain upbeat, saying, "Well wait and see where Grillis situation goes. Right now its right forearm discomfort. Were going to wait and see how he feels (Tuesday)." Asked what the Pirates would do if Grilli was lost for an extended period, Hurdle snapped, "And what if hes not? Our roster is going to be fine." It was a disappointing ending to a night that started so well. McCutchen connected in the first inning and again in the third to stake the Pirates to a 4-0 lead. The All-Star centre fielder has five homers in his last six games and 14 for the season. Both homers came off Dan Haren (4-11), whos 0-8 in 11 starts since May 9. McCutchen is 18 for 35 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games at Nationals Park. "Every player always has a ballpark he seems to hit at better than other places," he said. "I guess mine happens to be here." Although he went hitless in his final three at-bats, McCutchen is hitting .431 with 13 home runs and 26 RBIs in 27 career games against Washington. Morton (2-2) gave up three runs, six hits and a walk in 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win in five starts. He was lifted after yielding a two-run homer to Werth. "When you get later in the game, especially if youre pitching well -- which I was -- you like to finish off the outing on a strong note," Morton said. "Giving up a two-run homer isnt exactly what you want." But he got the Pirates in position for the win, and after Grilli departed, Vin Mazzaro retired Steve Lombardozzi on a grounder with a runner on second to earn his first career save. Werths two homers gave him four in two games. Adam LaRoche also connected for the Nationals, who have lost four straight and nine of 11 to fall three games under .500 (48-51) for the first time this season. "Theres a lot of character on this ballclub, theres no quit, theres a lot of fight," manager Davey Johnson said. "By and large everybody swung the bat pretty good." Before the game, general manager Mike Rizzo fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein in an effort to shake up a lacklustreoffence that ranked 27th in batting average and tied for 28th in runs scored. The Nationals failed to get the ball out of the infield until the fifth inning, hit into three double plays and went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. But at least they scored five runs, which matched their total for the previous three games. "Thats really the first time weve had something going in a while," Werth said. "It was a good feeling. Hopefully we can get the job done next time and build on that." Ecksteins replacement, Rick Schu, is expected to join the team Tuesday. The Pirates took the lead for good after three batters went to the plate. Jordy Mercer drew a one-out walk and McCutchen followed with a drive into the right-field bleachers. In the third, Haren hit Starling Marte with a pitch and McCutchen homered on a 2-1 pitch. In the fourth, Pittsburgh used a run-scoring groundout by Gaby Sanchez to make it 5-0. LaRoches 14th home run leading off the fifth was Washingtons first hit, and Werth connected with LaRoche at first base with a man on in the seventh. Pittsburgh made it 6-3 in the eighth, scoring a run on a wild pitch by Drew Storen. NOTES: Pirates 2B Neil Walker (strained oblique) joined the team Monday after playing three games with Triple-A Indianapolis. Hurdle said Walker will be activated off the disabled list on Tuesday "If he shows us hes good to move around." ... Nationals starting pitchers have one win in the last 11 games. ... Pittsburghs Clint Barmes played in his 1,000th career game. ... The Pirates have eight homers in their last four games. ... Pittsburgh went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Wholesale Football Jerseys Authentic . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Replica Football Jerseys . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. http://www.cheapfootballjerseyscustom.com/ .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. Cheap Football Jerseys Free Shipping . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Authentic Football Jerseys Cheap .5 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hawkins, who turns 41 in December, will compete with Rex Brothers for the closers role at spring training. You tell me whats weirder: that the second-, third- and fourth-ranked teams could lose on the same Saturday for the first time since 1985, or that the effect on the rankings of something so eclipselike in its rarity could be so negligible. Clemson, Michigan and Washington arent going to fall out of playoff contention. In fact, they arent going to fall far at all. Thats a tribute to the credibility they built in the first 10 weeks of the season, a commentary on all the two- and three-loss teams immediately behind them and on the oddity of this weird but entertaining 2016 season.1. To recap, No. 5 Ohio State may be the best team in the Big Ten and not make the conference championship game, and No. 20 USC may be the best team in the Pac-12 and not make its conference championship game. Watch where the Trojans land in the College Football Playoff rankings, and remember that if the Pac-12 champ goes to the playoff, the Rose Bowl gets to choose the Pac-12 team it desires. And either Clemson or Louisville is the best team in the ACC, and one of them wont make that leagues championship game. Can you remind me again why the Big 12 thinks a championship game will solve all its problems?2. Pitt began the season as a dark horse in the ACC Coastal and, thanks to an unexpectedly leaky defense, never brightened up. The Panthers defense has been uncharacteristically leaky -- for a Pat Narduzzi-coached team -- and thats why Pitt has lost four games. But when the Panthers have made stops, they have won big games. Is there another 6-4 team that has wins over two top-10 teams (No. 10 Penn State and No. 2 Clemson)? That should be a source of pride for Pitt. Or a source of what might have been.3. Two consecutive late-game plays in Iowas 14-13 upset of Michigan raised eyebrows. The first came with the Wolverines having a third-and-8 at their 18, with 1 minute, 43 seconds to play and Iowa down to its last timeout. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh eschewed running the ball and forcing the Hawkeyes to use their last timeout. He went for the first down that would have clinched the game. Of course he did. Hes Jim Harbaugh. Michigan quarterback?Wilton Speight, hurried by the rush of Parker Hesse, threw an incomplete pass. Iowa saved its timeout.4. And then came the punt, a low line drive that Desmond King fielded at the Iowa 41 and returned 8 yards..dddddddddddd Michigan linebacker?Mike McCrays?right hand raked across Kings helmet, swiveling the returners head. McCray was called for a face mask penalty, although he didnt grab it, and Iowa started that final possession all the way at the Michigan 36. Wolverine fans are not happy with the call. But in not grabbing the face mask, McCray did slap King upside the head. Either way, its a personal foul, right?5. When the barroom debate gets to best marriage of coach and program, it would be easy to pick Saban-Bama, Meyer-Ohio State, Harbaugh-Michigan or Swinney-Clemson. But if you get to the final four and Mike Leach and Washington State arent in there, you better be prepared to defend your argument. Leach thrives as a maverick, and theres no more mavericky Power 5 program than the Cougars out there on the Palouse. Washington State, after an 0-2 start that included a loss to FCS Eastern Washington, has won eight straight in the same season for the first time since 1930. The Cougars went to the Rose Bowl that year.6. The FPI says that the winner of No. 11 Oklahomas visit to No. 16 West Virginia on Saturday night will be the favorite to win the Big 12. Whither the Mountaineers and the playoff? They tried with their nonconference schedule, which included Missouri and BYU, only to be let down. West Virginia could be one of only six one-loss Power 5 teams. But there is room for only three in the playoff, after Alabama, and there may not be even that. No. 7 Wisconsin and No. 10 Penn State, each with two losses, could play for the Big Ten title and get a playoff bid ahead of West Virginia.7. It is difficult to imagine a scenario that would deny Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson the Heisman Trophy. If we are going to question his efficacy Saturday, when he accounted for only 298 total yards and one passing touchdown, then we are measuring Jackson not against other players, but against his own otherworldly performance in the first nine games of the season. Thats not fair to Jackson. He has been far and away the best player in the FBS for 10 games. To my mind, its the biggest runaway in the Heisman since Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith got about 90 percent of the first-place vote a decade ago. ' ' '