Blown save aside, Melancon has warm Pittsburgh return

PITTSBURGH — Mark Melancon admitted it was a little strange to be sitting in the visitors’ dugout at PNC Park, wearing his red Nationals hoodie, for the first time since he was traded from the Pirates in July.

That weirdness carried over to when he took the mound in the ninth, when although they did not play his usual walkup song, “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, he was greeted with a tribute on the video board and a standing ovation from the 29,513 fans in attendance. The Pirates’ offense didn’t treat him as nicely, rallying to hand Melancon his first blown save as a member of the Nationals during a 6-5 Pittsburgh win in 11 innings.

Still, before Sean Rodriguez’s game-tying double, Melancon received a warm reception that made him grateful.

“It was very cool,” he said. “I didn’t really know they put a montage up or anything like that, so it was very classy and very cool I got a standing ‘O.’ I wanted to tip my cap, but I didn’t wanna mess up my mojo either; probably should have tipped my cap.”

Prior to the game, Melancon caught up with a few of his old teammates, who met him outside of the Nats’ clubhouse. But perhaps the strangest part of it all was that Melancon returned here with the Nationals on the verge of clinching the National League East. Washington’s magic number is two, …

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