Ivan Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a home run and a season-high four RBIs as the Washington Nationals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ian Desmond collected three hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who had lost nine of their previous 12 road games.
Rodriguez ignited a five-run rally in the fourth inning with a two-run double. Danny Espinosa followed with an RBI single while Jason Maxwell and Nyjer Morgan plated a run apiece later in the frame.
The following inning, Michael Morse led off with a single before Rodriguez launched Paul Maholm's first offering over the right-field wall for his third homer of the season and a commanding 7-0 lead.
Desmond hit an RBI double in the sixth and Michael Morse added a run-scoring single in the eighth for a 9-1 advantage.
John Lannan (7-6) won for the fifth time in six decisions, allowing one run and five hits in seven innings. The left-hander, who improved to 1-3 lifetime vs. Pittsburgh, walked one and struck out seven.
Maholm (7-14) suffered his fifth straight loss as he was battered for seven runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 frames, falling to 0-4 in seven career starts against the Nationals.
Andrew McCutchen homered and Lastings Milledge had three hits for the Pirates, who had won three in a row at home.
Washington | Pittsburgh | |
John Lannan | Player | Paul Maholm |
Win | W/L | Loss |
7.0 | IP | 4.1 |
7 | Strikeouts | 4 |
5 | Hits | 9 |
1.29 | ERA | 14.54 |
Washington | Pittsburgh | |
Ivan Rodriguez | Player | Lastings Milledge |
3 | Hits | 3 |
4 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
6 | TB | 3 |
.600 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Washington | 15 | 1 | 20 | .385 | 17 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Pittsburgh | 9 | 1 | 14 | .237 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |