Cristian Guzman tied a career high with six RBIs, including a tiebreaking three-run double in the sixth inning, and the Washington Nationals held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-8 today. Guzman went 4-for-5 and scored two runs for the Nationals, who have won five of six. He also had six RBIs on June 24, 2001, for Minnesota at Detroit. Jose Bautista homered and drove in three runs for the Pirates.
Washington pushed across four runs in the sixth inning to take a 9-5 lead. Wily Mo Pena led off with an infield squibber for a hit against Paul Maholm (2-3), who walked pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard before being yanked in favor of Franquelis Osoria. Felipe Lopez hit a flyball to right that Xavier Nady lost in the sun and Guzman cleared the bases with a double to right-center. (More MLB stories.)