Kearns’ RBI single gives Nats 3-2 win over Pirates

WASHINGTON — Austin Kearns broke a tie with a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning, and the Washington Nationals ran their winning streak to a season-high four games Thursday night with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After Cristian Guzman singled and Nick Johnson was hit by a pitch, Kearns drove an outside pitch to right off John Grabow (1-1) to score Guzman, who barely beat the throw from Xaiver Nady.

Luis Ayala (1-1) pitched the eighth to get the victory in a game played at a torrid pace — 2 hours, 4 minutes. Jon Rauch worked the ninth for his sixth save, doubling his career total from the start of the season. He is serving as Washington’s closer while Chad Cordero nurses an arm injury.

Complete story appears in Friday’s edition.