John Lannan pitches 7 innings as Nationals beat Diamondbacks 4-2

Lannan pitches Nats to 4-2 win over Diamondbacks

WASHINGTON — John Lannan pitched seven strong innings, Ian Desmond had three hits and the Washington Nationals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak.

Lannan (4-5) allowed two runs and four hits to win his second consecutive start and earn his first win at home since Aug. 5, 2009, against Florida. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts since he returned from a six-week stay at Double-A Harrisburg.

Ryan Zimmerman also drove in two runs for Washington, which got off to a strong start against Joe Saunders (1-2). Sean Burnett retired all six batters he faced for his second save.

The Nationals scored three in the first and Wil Nieves hit his second homer of the season in the second to make it 4-0. Zimmerman had a two-run single and Michael Morse snapped an 0-for-13 slide with an RBI single.

Saunders tossed a five-hitter in Arizona’s 6-1 victory against Washington on Aug. 3, but the lefty allowed 10 hits over six-plus innings in this one.

Washington manager Jim Riggleman held a pregame meeting and implored his players to continue doing their best — despite the slide.

“We may not be playing great, but we’re playing hard,” he told them.

Arizona got both of its runs in the fifth when Stephen Drew hit an RBI triple and scored on Gerardo Parra’s single.

NOTES: Arizona RHP Juan Gutierrez, on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, will throw batting practice Saturday, manager Kirk Gibson said. Gutierrez is 0-6 with a 6.69 ERA. … Drew’s triple was his eighth, tied for the major league lead. … Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau attended the game. When he was shown on the scoreboard, Boudreau jokingly tried to hide by pulling his cap over his face. A moment later he doffed it and acknowledged the crowd’s applause. … Nationals LF Josh Willingham was 0 for 3 and is mired in a 3-for-25 slump.