Sweet Homecoming: John Lannan sharp as Washington Nationals beat New York Yankees 3-2

Welcome Home: Lannan leads Nationals past Yankees

NEW YORK — Local product John Lannan pitched into the ninth inning in his first career start at Yankee Stadium, leading the Washington Nationals to a much-needed 3-2 victory over New York on Wednesday night.

Lannan (4-5) allowed two runs and four hits in 8 1-3 innings, hurting one of his hometown teams for the second time in two weeks. The 6-foot-4 left-hander beat the New York Mets 7-1 with a four-hitter on June 6.

Johnny Damon hit a leadoff homer in the ninth and Mark Teixeira singled with one out, sending Lannan to the dugout and the Yankee Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

Mike MacDougal replaced Lannan, a Long Island native who grew up rooting for the Yankees, and pinch-runner Brett Gardner stole second and third on consecutive pitches before Alex Rodriguez walked. But MacDougal got Robinson Cano to ground into a game-ending double play, pumping his fist after second baseman Anderson Hernandez threw to first.

It was MacDougal’s first save since July 16, 2006, for Kansas City at Detroit. Cano fouled off four 2-2 pitches before hitting a tailor-made double-play ball to shortstop.

Cano also homered and Chien-Ming Wang turned in a decent start for the Yankees, who played without Derek Jeter. The All-Star shortstop sat out with a sore left ankle after leaving New York’s 5-3 victory over Washington on Tuesday night after seven innings.

Jeter went for an MRI before the game and checked out fine. He could be back in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale.

Adam Dunn homered and Nick Johnson hit a two-run triple for the Nationals, who had lost 16 of 19. Washington improved to 7-24 on the road.

Wang (0-5) likely bought himself at least another turn in the rotation with his best start of the year. The right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in a season-high five innings one day after his wife, Chia-Ling Wu, gave birth to their first child, a 7-pound, 12-ounce boy named Justin Jesse.

Wang got a tough break in the fifth when Cristian Guzman reached on a grounder to third. Rodriguez’s throw appeared to nip the speedy Guzman at first, but umpire Larry Vanover signaled safe. Yankees manager Joe Girardi came out to argue but quickly returned to the dugout.

Guzman’s infield single put runners on first and third with one out and Johnson followed with a sinking liner to left-center. Center fielder Melky Cabrera tried to make a diving catch but the ball got past him and rolled to the wall.

Willie Harris and Guzman scored easily to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead, but Wang buckled down to strand Johnson at third. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out before Dunn was intentionally walked, and Elijah Dukes grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Dunn connected on a 3-0 pitch in the fourth. The slugger’s 18th homer landed in the alley between the second deck and bleachers in right field.

Wang was 0-1 with an 11.05 ERA in his previous two starts and 0-4 with a 21.60 ERA in five starts this season. He spent about a month on the disabled list with weakness in the adductor muscles in his hips and made three relief appearances before returning to the rotation June 4 against Texas.

With Phil Hughes pitching well in the bullpen, Girardi stressed the importance of the outing for Wang before the game. Hughes replaced Wang in the sixth and threw two scoreless innings.

NOTES: New York had been 23-0 when allowing three runs or fewer, the only unbeaten team in the majors in that category, and had won 33 in a row dating to last year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. … Dunn’s drive was the sixth homer in the majors this season on a 3-0 count, according to STATS LLC. Only three of Dunn’s 296 home runs have come on 3-0 counts. … Seen at the game: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and his brother Peyton of the Indianapolis Colts. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck also was on hand.

(Nationals 3, Yankees 2; SUBS 5th graf to correct that MacDougal’s previous save came with Kansas City, sted Chicago)