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Nats, Pirates conclude extended series

Apr 25, 2011 - 3:05 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates are in action tonight because the opener of their three-game series on Friday at PNC Park was postponed due to rain.

Pittsburgh won Saturday's opener of the set by a 7-2 score behind six solid innings from starter Jeff Karstens, who held the Nats to a pair of runs with three strikeouts and one walk. Washington, however, returned the favor in Sunday's 6-3 triumph thanks to a big night from Mike Morse, who belted a three-run homer during a four-run fourth inning and finished with three hits.

"Mike really got into that ball and that's what we've been waiting for. When Mike's on top of his game, he hits for extra-base hits," said Washington's manager, Jim Riggleman.

Adam LaRoche also homered and drove in a pair of runs, while Danny Espinosa registered three hits for the Nationals. Jason Marquis helped Washington end a three-game losing streak by holding the Pirates to three runs in six innings.

The Nationals, who will return to the nation's capital for seven games versus the Mets and Giants after their stay in the Steel City, will send John Lannan to the mound Monday and he's 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA in four starts. Lannan recently defeated St. Louis at Busch Stadium last Wednesday and limited the Cardinals to two runs on seven hits in five innings.

Lannan, a left-hander, will make his seventh career start against Pittsburgh and is only 1-3 with a 4.67 ERA in this series.

Pittsburgh has dropped four of five games and received a rough outing from Kevin Correia on Easter Sunday. Correia was reached for five runs and 11 hits, including the two homers, in only 4 2/3 innings of work. He entered the game with a 3-1 record and a 2.48 earned run average, and was aiming to become the first Pirate since Jeff Suppan to collect four wins in the first month of the season.

"He was battling," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Correia on the team's site. "But he was working uphill most of the day. They were able to extend and drive some balls out of the ballpark."

Neil Walker had three hits and an RBI, while Chris Snyder and Ronny Cedeno each drove in a run for the Pirates. Pittsburgh will also host San Francisco for three games at PNC Park and will hand the ball to winless starter Paul Maholm this evening.

Maholm threw 6 2/3 shutout innings in his 2011 debut on April 2 at the Cubs, but subsequently lost his next three starts, including last Tuesday's 6-0 blanking at the hands of Florida. The Marlins knocked Maholm around for a season-high six runs and seven hits in only 3 2/3 innings, sending the lefty to an 0-3 mark and a 4.30 ERA in four starts.

The Mississippi State product is still searching for his first win against Washington and sports an 0-4 record with a 6.26 ERA in seven career appearances.

Washington won five of six matchups with Pittsburgh a year ago.