(Sports Network) - Former first-round draft pick Paul Maholm can continue a recent run of success today, when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Washington Nationals in the third and final game of a three-game series at PNC Park. Maholm, 25, was the eighth overall pick in 2003 for the Pirates. He was a full-time starter in Pittsburgh last season, going 8-10 with a 4.76 earned run average in 30 outings. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder has recovered somewhat after a 2-9 start this year, winning two of his last three starts. Included in that span was a 3-2 defeat of Florida on June 26 in Miami in which he gave up three hits and two runs in 7 2/3 innings. He is just 2-5 in eight home starts, however, posting a 4.65 ERA in 50 1/3 innings. Journeyman Mike Bacsik takes the mound for the Nationals in search of his first victory since May 24. Since that win, a 4-3 defeat of Cincinnati, the 29-year-old southpaw is 0-5 with a no-decision in six starts. In his last outing on June 26 at Atlanta, Bacsik allowed eight hits and five runs over six innings in a 6-2 loss. The stint with the Nationals is his first in the big leagues since 2004, when he made three appearances with Texas. Previously, he had pitched in Cleveland in 2001 and with the New York Mets in 2002 and 2003. He dropped a 7-6 decision to Pittsburgh on June 5, allowing six hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings. On Saturday, Adam LaRoche homered and drove in three runs while Tom Gorzelanny threw 7 1/3 solid innings as the Pirates downed the Nationals, 7-2. Gorzelanny (8-4) allowed just five hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out six in the win. Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson had two RBI apiece for the Pirates, who scored six times in the second inning to win for the fourth time in five games. Belliard homered and Dmitri Young drove in a run for the Nationals, who have dropped five in a row and 11 of 14. Washington starter Jason Bergmann (1-5) was tagged for six runs on eight hits in just four innings.