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Aug 14, 2009 - 3:42 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Washington (40-74) at Cincinnati (49-64), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Aaron Harang can breathe easier after snapping the longest losing streak of his eight-year career. Facing the Washington Nationals at home could help him start a run in the right direction.

The right-hander tries to help the Cincinnati Reds to a sixth consecutive home win over the Nationals on Friday night.

Harang (6-13, 4.43 ERA) allowed two runs and struck out seven in seven innings of a 5-2 victory at San Francisco on Sunday for his first win since May 25. Harang, who leads the majors in losses, was 0-9 with a 5.49 ERA in 13 starts between victories.

"I feel like I've got in a groove and worked on some stuff with my mechanics," said Harang, who, according to the Reds' official Web site, was recently exposed to waivers and cleared. "I was throwing some good games and hadn't been getting much run support."

Harang, whose 17 losses in 2008 were tied for the most in baseball, is 0-1 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts against the Nationals. He allowed five hits in 7 2-3 scoreless innings of a 4-2, 12-inning win at Washington on June 10.

Cincinnati (50-64) handed Washington its third straight loss since winning eight in row with a 7-0 victory in Thursday's series opener. The Nationals last win at Great American Ballpark was 4-3 on May 24, 2007.

Jonny Gomes became the 24th player in franchise history, and the sixth in the majors this season, to hit three homers in a game Thursday. Gomes, who hit three home runs for Tampa Bay on July 30, 2005, has 14 homers and 33 RBIs in 61 games after being called up from Triple-A Louisville on May 22.

"I was in Triple-A to start this thing off, and now - not too many at-bats later - I have three home runs," he said.

Gomes, who homered in each of his first three at-bats, had five RBIs and is 6 for 11 against the Nationals this season.

"That was one of the best performances I've seen in a long time," said manager Dusty Baker, whose team has won five of eight since losing eight in a row. "We needed those runs and the victory."

Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn each had one of the Nationals' two hits off Bronson Arroyo on Thursday.

Washington (40-75), which averaged 7.1 runs during its winning streak, has been outscored 21-3 during its skid.

"You have to create some energy," interim manager Jim Riggleman said. "Let the other team know that you're beating us, but we're going to keep coming at you."

Dunn, who spent the first 7 1/2 years of his career with the Reds, is 2 for 12 against his former club this season.

Zimmerman is batting .441 during a 16-game hitting streak but 4 for 16 against Cincinnati in 2009.

Coming off his first victory as a starter, Garrett Mock (1-4, 6.14) takes the ball for the Nationals in his first appearance against Cincinnati.

The right-hander allowed two runs and struck out seven in six innings of a 5-2 win over Arizona on Saturday.

"It's been a long time coming," said Mock, who is 1-5 with a 6.28 ERA in eight career starts over two seasons.