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Nationals open set with Pirates in DC

Jul 1, 2011 - 3:05 PM (Sports Network) - Washington manager Davey Johnson heads home for the first time in his brief tenure tonight, when the Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin a four-game series at Nationals Park.

Johnson took the reins from Jim Riggleman last week before the team began a series in California against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, which ended in a third straight loss Thursday.

Howie Kendrick's double-play ground ball provided the game's only run, as Dan Haren outdueled Jordan Zimmermann to help the Angels complete the sweep with a 1-0 victory.

Zimmermann (5-7) threw his first career complete game in a losing effort. The third-year starter gave up four hits and one walk in his 11th straight quality start, but an unearned run in the fourth inning cost the Nationals the game.

Washington came into the series winners in 13 of 15 overall, but slipped back below .500 and stands fourth in the five-team National League East Division - 10 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.

Similarly skidding lefty Tom Gorzelanny gets the start on the mound for the Nationals and will make his sixth career appearance against the team that drafted him in the second round in 2003.

He's 1-0 with a 3.00 earned run average in the previous matchups while allowing six runs on 18 hits in 18 innings.

He's not won this season since May 7, a drought that covers his last five starts - all losses for Washington, which is 3-8 in the 11 games he's pitched.

Tough luck was the applicable tag after his mot recent outing, however, which saw Gorzelanny scatter seven hits and allow just one run in seven innings of a 3-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

For Pittsburgh, righty Charlie Morton makes start No. 15 of the season and can add to an already career-high win total.

The 27-year-old New Jersey native, who had 11 wins in 51 appearances entering 2011, picked up his seventh of this year with a 7-3 decision at Houston on June 15.

He was hit hard in one subsequent outing, surrendering seven runs on eight hits in two innings of an 8-3 loss to Baltimore on June 20.

Morton's last turn in the rotation was skipped so he could work on his mechanics after a three-start stretch in which he's posted a 12.27 ERA after recording a 2.52 mark in his first 11.

On Thursday in Toronto, Brandon Wood hit a two-run home run to help the Pirates take a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game series.

Alex Presley, Andrew McCutchen, Matt Diaz and Ronny Cedeno each drove in a run for the Pirates, who have won six of their last eight.

Jeff Karstens (6-4) pitched seven innings to get the win, giving up two runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts.