Nationals score 6 runs in 8th inning, sparked by Guzman single, to beat Giants 10-6

Nationals rally to beat Giants 10-6

WASHINGTON — Cristian Guzman hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Washington’s six-run eighth inning, helping the Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 10-6 on Tuesday night.

Guzman was in a 7-for-45 skid before his hit off Merkin Valdez gave the Nationals a 6-5 lead.

Washington snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided its first seven-game slide since starting the season 0-7. The six-run inning tied its season high.

Ron Villone (3-0) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings to get the win for the Nationals, who fired pitching coach Randy St. Claire — the longest-tenured member of their staff — before the game. Steve McCatty was promoted from Triple-A Syracuse to replace St. Claire.

Tim Lincecum struck out seven in 6 1-3 innings for the Giants, allowing four runs, two earned, and eight hits.

Aaron Rowand led off the game with a home run and San Francisco carried a 5-4 lead into the eighth.

The Nationals opened their big inning with four consecutive singles. Pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez tied it before Guzman put Washington ahead. Ryan Zimmerman added a two-run double, Elijah Dukes doubled in a run and Wil Nieves had a sacrifice fly.

Bob Howry (0-3) recorded just one out for the Giants, and was charged with three runs and three hits.

San Francisco took advantage of Washington’s shoddy defense to take the lead in the fifth inning. The Nationals have committed 50 errors this season, worst in the majors.

After singles by Fred Lewis and Juan Uribe and a sacrifice by Lincecum, Craig Stammen walked Rowand on a pitch in the dirt that got past catcher Josh Bard.

Bard slid to pick up the ball to the left of home plate and threw past Stammen trying to prevent Lewis from scoring. Uribe also scampered home on the play and Randy Winn singled in Rowand to give the Giants a 4-2 lead.

Stammen allowed five runs, four earned, and seven hits in six innings.

Bard hit his first home run since July 27, 2008, in the second inning. It was the second home run Lincecum has allowed in 11 games this year.