Pirates 5 - 3 Nationals
Final
  for this game

Nationals end quick series with Pirates

May 17, 2012 - 2:56 PM (Sports Network) - Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann aims for his first home win of the season tonight when the Washington Nationals host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a two-game series at Nationals Park.

Zimmerman, a second-round pick of Washington in 2007, has made four starts at home in 2012 and is 0-2 with a 2.73 earned run average across 26 1/3 innings, losing to Arizona and Philadelphia while getting no-decisions against Cincinnati and Houston.

Ironically, the Nationals own the National League's best home record at 14-5.

The Wisconsin native, who'll turn 26 next week, was a 2-1 winner at Cincinnati in his most recent outing on May 12, allowing a single run on five hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.

He has never faced the Pirates.

On Wednesday, Adam LaRoche collected his 1,000th career hit with a three-run double in the seventh and added a solo home run, as Washington took down the Pirates, 7-4.

Ian Desmond and Xavier Nady each hit solo home runs and Bryce Harper crushed his first career triple and scored twice for the Nationals, who bounced back from a 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

Gio Gonzalez (5-1) allowed three runs on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out 10 over seven full frames. Tyler Clippard allowed a run in the eighth, but Henry Rodriguez worked around an error in the ninth to pick up his ninth save of the season.

Josh Harrison hit a two-run home run and added an RBI single for the Pirates, who have lost two straight since a three-game winning streak.

Erik Bedard (2-5) gave up four runs on six hits and a walk while fanning seven over six innings to take the loss.

Pittsburgh goes with righty James McDonald, who aims for a third win in his last four starts after beginning the year with a four-start drought.

The 27-year-old Californian allowed 13 hits and four runs in 14 innings while defeating Atlanta and Cincinnati on April 30 and May 5, but lost a 1-0 decision to Houston in his most recent outing on May 11.

In that game, he pitched eight innings, allowed four hits and a run and struck out eight.

He's 0-1 in four career meetings with Washington with a 4.15 ERA.

The Pirates won two of three when they hosted the Nats from May 8-10.






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