Washington battered A.J. Burnett, and Gio Gonzalez was good enough in a 9-3 Nats win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Gonzalez (8-4, 3.83 ERA) gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits in five-plus innings of work, striking out five without issuing a walk.
Burnett (8-4, 2.68 ERA) was tagged for five runs on 11 hits in five and two-thirds innings, striking out eight without a walk.
Anthony Rendon was 0-for-4 batting in the two hole in his first game back since coming off the disabled list. Yunel Escobar, batting cleanup, was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Ian Desmond continued his torrid hitting of late, going 2-for-3 with a homer, his 11th of the season. Desmond is hitting just .222 on the season, but he has hit .455 over his last 10 games with four homers, seven RBI and eight runs scored.
Michael A. Taylor also homered, his ninth of the season, on a 4-for-5 night at the plate.
Washington (52-44) maintains a three-game lead in the National League East over the New York Mets, 15-2 winners over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
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Chris Graham
