PITTSBURGH, July 31 (UPI) -- Struggling Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps worked out of a ninth-inning jam Friday for a 5-4 win over Washington and the Pirates halted a five-game losing streak.
The Pirates presented a new-look roster after a series of trades with Seattle, San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs. Shortstop Ronny Cedeno, one of five players Pittsburgh acquired from Seattle, started Friday and went 1-for-4.
The Pirates owned a 5-2 lead going into the eighth, but Cristian Guzman doubled home a run and then scored on a wild pitch to bring the Nationals within one. Capps, who had given up three runs and five hits in his two previous outings, came on in the ninth to protect the one-run lead and retired the first two batters on strikes.
Alberto Gonzalez then singled and pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard produced a base hit on which Gonzalez stopped at second. With the game on the line, Capps collected his 21st save by getting Nyjer Morgan to pop out to shortstop.
Ross Ohlendorf (9-8) lasted 6 1/3 innings to get the win, giving up two runs on six hits.
The loss went to John Lannan (7-8), who surrendered five runs on nine hits in seven innings.
