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Nationals make most of chances, down Orioles

Jun 18, 2011 - 6:43 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Jerry Hairston Jr. went 3-for-3 and drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, helping the Nationals beat the Orioles, 8-4, for their seventh consecutive victory.

Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond also drove in runs during the decisive inning for Washington, which is on its longest winning streak since 2009. The Nationals had an eight-game run that season, and also ended the year with seven consecutive victories.

"It's a long season. We never want to get ahead of ourselves," Hairston said. "If we focus on winning series, hopefully we'll put ourselves in position come September where we're in the hunt."

They won Friday thanks to timely hits, while the Orioles couldn't capitalize on 18 hits. They went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners to open this three-game interleague series with a loss -- the fifth in their last six games.

Derrek Lee had five hits, while Nick Markakis and Adam Jones both had four in the setback.

"We need to play better. Spring training is over," Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said. "We keep making the same mistakes. We have to start getting some runs and play better defense."

After the Orioles tied the game in the top of the sixth, the Nationals scored three runs in the bottom half.

Jeremy Accardo (3-3) took the mound for Baltimore and was ineffective, walking Wilson Ramos before giving up a hard-hit RBI double to Hairston. He walked Sean Burnett -- the opposing pitcher -- before finally recording an out.

But Accardo was pulled at that point and Jason Berken came in, only to give up a run-scoring base hit to Werth. Desmond's sacrifice fly to center plated Burnett to make it a 7-4 contest.

The Nationals bullpen made the lead stand. Burnett (3-3) and Henry Rodriguez worked a scoreless seventh before Tyler Clippard tossed the eighth. He allowed a two-out single to Markakis, but ended a long battle with Jones by fanning him on a high fastball.

Roger Bernadina blasted a leadoff homer in the bottom half, and Ryan Mattheus pitched a shutout ninth in his second major league appearance.

After inclement weather delayed the start of the game by about an hour, the Orioles got on the board in the fourth inning, when they had Lee on second after a double. Robert Andino singled through the left side with two away, and Ramos, the Nationals' catcher, didn't catch the throw from Hairston as Lee crossed the plate standing up.

Andino moved to second on the play, and Orioles starter Zach Britton followed by slapping an opposite field hit to the gap in left. A sliding Hairston couldn't stop the ball and Andino came around to score easily.

It was the first career hit and RBI for the rookie pitcher, who did not have a major league plate appearance prior to Friday's game.

However, Washington surged ahead with a four-run fifth.

After Ramos and Hairston led off with singles to put runners on the corners, Jason Marquis bunted toward third base. Mark Reynolds fielded the ball and checked to make sure Ramos wasn't headed home, he turned toward first only to find Marquis nearly at the bag.

Reynolds' rushed throw sailed wide, allowing Ramos to score and Hairston to advance to third.

A Bernadina groundout brought another run in, and RBI singles from Desmond and Ryan Zimmerman made it a 4-2 contest.

The Orioles tied the game in the next inning, after Andino's one-out double put runners on second and third. That signaled the end of Marquis' day, and pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero singled to center off Todd Coffey to get one run in, and J.J. Hardy's sacrifice fly plated Andino. Baltimore went on to load the bases with two away, but Wieters grounded into a force out at second to end the inning.

Game Notes

Baltimore took two of three from Washington at home last month...In five innings, Britton allowed four runs -- one earned -- on five hits and two walks...Marquis gave up 12 hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings...It was revealed Friday that Orioles right-hander Jeremy Guthrie has a strain in his back, but will apparently not go on the disabled list. He left Thursday's win at Toronto with the injury, but posted on his Twitter account Friday that an MRI exam showed a "minor" strain.