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Nats finally win one for Davey Johnson

Jul 2, 2011 - 7:06 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - The Nationals finally have their first win under Davey Johnson.

Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs singled in Alex Cora with the winning run with one out in the ninth inning, as Washington topped Pittsburgh, 2-1, in the first of a four-game set at Nationals Park.

Johnson had lost his first three contests with the Nationals after taking the reins of a team that was above .500, but they were swept in a series against the Angels.

Michael Morse singled to center off Tim Wood (0-3), went to second on a wild pitch. Danny Espinosa was intentionally walked. Cora then came on as a pinch- runner. Wilson Ramos flied out to right field, but Stairs, who entered the game 4-for-32 as a pinch-hitter this season, singled to right field to plate the winning run.

"This became an all-time memory right now," said Johnson, who won in an MLB uniform for the first time since 2000, when his last managerial stint with the Dodgers ended. "My first win, 11 years in the big leagues to get that win, here in front of the home crowd, it was something special."

Roger Bernadina added a homer in the effort, as the Nats snapped their three- game skid.

Tom Gorzelanny dazzled Pittsburgh hitters over seven frames, giving up just six hits and one unearned run while fanning eight, but did not factor in the decision.

Drew Storen (5-2) earned the win after tossing a perfect ninth.

Alex Presley doubled and accounted for Pittsburgh's lone run with an RBI groundout. The Pirates, who went hitless in 11 chances with men in scoring position, lost for the third time in five games.

"He made pitches, especially with runners in scoring position," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Gorzelanny. "We had multiple guys with shots at driving in that run, but he made pitches when he had to."

The Pirates jumped into the lead in the third. Michael McKenry dropped a blooping leadoff single into shallow left before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and throwing error from Gorzelanny. With runners on the corners, Presley slapped a chopper to first, allowing McKenry to score.

But the Nationals knotted the game in the sixth after Bernadina sent a first pitch fastball into the right field bleachers.

Pittsburgh threatened in the seventh after Josh Harrison singled to center, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but the Bucs failed to capitalize as their next two hitters struck out to strand the rookie at second.

Washington also squandered an opportunity to score in the eighth, getting both Rick Ankiel and Bernadina on to lead off the frame. But reliever Chris Resop came in and struck out the next three hitters.

Game Notes

Ankiel was activated from the 15-day disabled list. The Nationals also placed infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr. on the 15-day DL (right wrist fracture)...Bernadina's sixth inning blast broke a 17 inning scoreless drought for the Nats...Washington is 11-1 in its last 12 home games...The Pirates lost for just the 16th time this season after scoring the first run...Pittsburgh scored its 305th run of the season, 46 more than they had at this point in 2010.