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Guzman powers Nationals over Pirates

May 3, 2008 - 10:00 PM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Cristian Guzman isn't known for being a big bopper, but on Saturday, he carried a very big stick.

Guzman had four hits and tied a career high with six RBI to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Guzman's three-run double in the sixth inning broke up a 5-5 tie. He also had a two-run homer in the first and singled home a run in the second.

The big day by the veteran shortstop enabled him to break a 1-for-13 slump and give the Nationals their sixth win in their last eight games. The six RBI equalled the total he had at Detroit on June 24, 2001 when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins.

"This is a game we needed (the offense)," Guzman said. "This is a gift today, for me and the team."

Guzman missed the 2006 season after shoulder surgery and played just 46 games a year ago due to a left hamstring strain and a torn ligament in his thumb.

"Nothing new - he's healthy," Washington manager Manny Acta said. "Just being healthy, having that surgery a couple of years ago, he's making better contact. He's really enjoying the game and I think when you're healthy, that's what happens."

Guzman's four hits were the most by a Nationals player this year, and leads the club with 40 hits and 19 runs.

"This year is different," Guzman said. "Last year, I was hurt. This year, thank God, I am healthy."

Washington grabbed a quick 5-1 lead off Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm (2-3), scoring two runs in the first and three in the second when the Nationals batted around.

Maholm gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings in the loss - a huge turnabout from his previous start on Tuesday when he threw a two-hit complete game in beating Philadelphia.

"You can't let them get ahead that early," Maholm said. "Our offense battled back. I just got to find a way to be consistent, especially on the road. I'll figure out something, but I just don't know exactly what to do right now."

Jesus Colome (1-1) picked up the win in relief of the Nationals' Matt Chico, who allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Colome gave up one hit and struck out a batter in 1 2/3 innings.

Jon Rauch pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.

In the sixth, Washington's Wily Mo Pena led off the frame with an infield single. Ronnie Belliard walked, and after Franquelis Osoria relieved Maholm, Felipe Lopez popped a ball to right field that Xavier Nady lost in the sun, loading the bases. Guzman delivered a double to right-center field, making it 8-5.

Austin Kearns later drove in Guzman with a single to make it 9-5.

Pittsburgh, which has lost six of its last nine games, began a rally in the fourth on a home run by Jose Bautista, cutting the deficit to 5-2. It was his fourth of the season and third in the past two days.

The Pirates tied the score at 5-5 in the fifth after consecutive RBI singles by Nady, Adam LaRoche and Bautista.

Bautista cut Pittsburgh's lead to 9-6 with a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Nady drove in two runs with an eighth-inning double off Luis Ayala.

"We've been coming back in a lot of games," Bautista said. "We've got to keep that up and just wait until our pitching staff settles down."

Bautista and Nady both had three hits and three RBI for the Pirates.