MLB: Cincinnati 5, Washington 3

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Ken Griffey Jr. homered and Austin Kearns drove in two runs Thursday afternoon as Cincinnati beat the Washington Nationals, 5-3.

Griffey was 3-for-5 and scored two runs and Kearns went 2-for-4 as Cincinnati won for the third time in four overall. Sean Casey was 3-for-4.

Winning pitcher Brandon Claussen improved to 9-8. David Weathers got the final two outs for his 11th save.

Jamey Carroll had one RBI and Brad Wilkerson hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, who have dropped six of their last nine.

Vinny Castilla also had two hits for the Nationals.

Loser Livan Hernandez fell to 14-6. He allowed four runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings with three walks and five strikeouts.