Recap: Houston vs. Washington

Sports Network | July 9, 2009

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Jeff Keppinger and Michael Bourn each drove in runs with triples during the pivotal sixth inning, as Houston beat Washington, 9-4, at Minute Maid Park.

Lance Berkman added a three-run homer for the Astros, who actually began a stretch of five games against the Nationals this weekend earlier Thursday.

Just before the game, the teams finished a contest that was suspended from May 5 at Nationals Park. That game, which resumed in the bottom of the 11th inning, was won by Washington, 11-10, on a Miguel Tejada throwing error. Nyjer Morgan, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Washington on June 30, scored the winning run.

Houston starter Russ Ortiz was charged with six hits and four runs in three innings. Alberto Arias (2-0) pitched two innings to get the win.

Nationals starter John Lannan (6-6) was charged with 11 hits and five runs over five-plus innings. He had a four-decision winning streak broken and lost for the first time in seven outings. It was the left-hander's first defeat since May 31 at Philadelphia.

Josh Bard had a two-run single for the Nationals, who came into Thursday's action suffering from a three-game sweep at Colorado.

The Nationals held a 4-2 lead to start the bottom of the sixth, but the hosts scored four times to move in front. Ivan Rodriguez doubled and Geoff Blum legged out an infield hit to start the frame against Lannan. Keppinger then tripled to the gap in right-center to tie the game. Jason Bergmann came in and fanned pinch-hitter Jason Michaels, but Bourn followed with a triple off the wall in left field. Tejada capped the big inning with an RBI single to left.

Berkman homered to left field off Mike MacDougal in the eighth with Bourn and Tejada on base.

Ryan Zimmerman singled in a run and scored on Adam Dunn's double in the opening inning for the Nationals before Hunter Pence singled in Berkman in the bottom half.

Bard's base hit in the third gave the Nats a 4-1 cushion before Berkman scored on Pence's groundout in the bottom of the same inning.

Carlos Lee had three hits for Houston, which went 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position...Scott Olsen (2-4) pitches for Washington on Friday, while Roy Oswalt (5-4) takes the mound for Houston.