WASHINGTON (AP) — Konnor Griffin put on quite a show for the Pittsburgh Pirates.A single, a stolen base, two spectacular plays in the field — and finally, a bases-loaded hit that put his team ahead to stay.“He’s a complete player,” manager Don Kelly said. “He’s going to help us win for a long time.”Pittsburgh’s 11-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday may have looked lopsided at the end, but it was tight much of the way — and Griffin repeatedly made big contributions. The 20-year-old shortstop, who received a nine-year, $140 million contract in April, showed the many ways he can impact a game.Griffin’s defensive day stood out in particular. There was a diving stop on a grounder in the third, but Curtis Mead beat it out for a single. In the fourth, Keibert Ruiz hit a popup to shallow left field, and Griffin had to deal with the sun while making a diving, backhanded catch.
“Had my glasses on my head, because sweat was just dripping down my lens,” Griffin said. “Took the chance of fighting the sun, and luckily it worked out.”Down 4-3, the Nationals loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth. CJ Abrams lifted a popup onto the outfield grass, and Griffin made a sliding backhanded grab on that one as well. And he nearly got up quickly enough to throw James Wood out at the plate after the Washington slugger tagged up at third. Wood beat Griffin’s bouncing throw, but that was the only run the Nationals got that inning.
