Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Cristian Guzman drove in six runs, including a three-run double in the sixth inning, as the Washington Nationals clipped the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-8, in the third of a four-game series at Nationals Park.

Starter Matt Chico gave up five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings for Washington, which has won five of its last six contests. Jesus Colome (1-1) allowed one hit over 1 2/3 scoreless frames to pick up the win.

Guzman finished 4-for-6 at the plate and scored two runs, while Austin Kearns was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run batted in. Felipe Lopez singled twice and scored three runs.

"When you have a lead, you should be eager to throw strikes," Washington manager Manny Acta said about Chico. "He was a little erratic. He has to go farther in games."

Paul Maholm (2-3), coming off his third career complete game, struggled on the mound, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings for the Pirates, who have dropped two of their last three outings.

Jose Bautista and Xavier Nady each had three hits and three RBI. Freddy Sanchez, Jason Bay and Adam LaRoche all had two hits, with Sanchez and Bay each scoring two runs.

With the score deadlocked at five, Washington scored four runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead. After the first three batters reached base, Guzman brought them home with a bases-clearing double to center field and later scored on an RBI single by Kearns.

A sacrifice fly by Bautista made it 9-6 in the seventh and Nady added a two- run double in the eighth.

Jon Rauch took over on the mound in the ninth and issued a one-out walk to Ronny Paulino. Nyjer Morgan came in as a pinch runner and immediately stole second, putting the tying run in scoring position. However, Rauch, unfazed, retired Ryan Doumit and Nate McLouth to record his seventh save of the season.

The Nationals grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Guzman's third home run of the season, but Pittsburgh got a run back in the top of the second on an RBI groundout by Paulino.

Washington quickly countered with three runs in the home-half, extending its advantage to 5-1. With the bases loaded and one down, Guzman singled sharply to left. Ryan Zimmerman then drove in a run on a force out and Lastings Milledge lined a run-scoring single to right.

Bautista's third home run in as many days narrowed the deficit to 5-2 in the fourth and the Pirates evened the score with three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Nady, LaRoche and Bautista.