Reimold’s three-run shot, solo drives by Zaun and Huff carry Orioles over Nationals 6-3

Orioles hit three HRs, rally past Nationals 6-3

BALTIMORE — Nolan Reimold hit a three-run homer, Gregg Zaun and Aubrey Huff had solo shots, and the Baltimore Orioles received a strong performance from their bullpen in a 6-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday night.

After Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie (6-7) allowed three runs in five shaky innings, four Baltimore relievers limited the Nationals to three hits the rest of the way. Matt Albers worked out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth, Jim Johnson pitched two shutout innings and George Sherrill worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Zaun had three hits for the Orioles, who will seek to complete a three-game sweep Sunday. Baltimore has won four of five from this season from their neighbors down Route 295.

The Orioles took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning on Reimold’s ninth home run, a towering fly off Shairon Martis (5-3) that dropped into the second row of the left-field seats. The ball was hit so high that left fielder Josh Willingham completely lost track of it; he threw his arms up in bewilderment as it landed behind him.

In the sixth, Washington loaded the bases with no outs against Brian Bass. Albers got Ronnie Belliard to hit into a force play at the plate, and Austin Kearns bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

Huff made it 5-3 in the seventh with his 10th homer, a no-doubt liner into the right-field seats off Joe Beimel, and Brian Roberts added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Washington took advantage of a wild stretch by Guthrie to go up 2-0 in the first inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases, Adam Dunn drew a walk to force in a run. Willingham struck out and Josh Bard walked before Belliard hit into a double play on Guthrie’s 39th pitch.

In the bottom half, Luke Scott struck out with the bases loaded and two outs.

Zaun homered in the second to get Baltimore within a run, but Washington made it 3-1 in the fourth when Willingham doubled and scored on a single by Kearns. It was Kearns’ first RBI in 34 games since May 7.

NOTES: Matt Hobgood, the fifth overall pick in the 2009 amateur draft, signed with Baltimore before the game and was introduced to the crowd after the second inning. … Nationals 1B Nick Johnson was rested after being hit by pitches on the shin and toe on same leg by pitches on successive nights. … Washington’s Christian Guzman had two hits, his 29th multihit game of the season.