WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Matt Stairs drove in Alex Cora from third with one out in the ninth inning Friday to give the Washington Nationals a 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh.
It was the first win for Davey Johnson as manager of the Nationals, following losses in his first three games at the helm. Johnson took over after Jim Riggleman resigned in a contract dispute with management.
Washington starter Tom Gorzelanny allowed only an unearned run through seven innings and left with the contest tied at 1-1. Pittsburgh scored its run in the third and Roger Bernadina tied it in the sixth with his fifth homer of the year.
Tim Wood (0-3) came on in the ninth in a bid to get the game into extra innings, but he retired only one batter.
Michael Morse led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Danny Espinosa was then intentionally walked and Cora was called on to run for Morse.
Wilson Ramos flew out to right, allowing Cora to reach third. Stairs followed with a drive to deep right, for which he was credited with a game-winning single.
Drew Storen (5-2) needed just seven pitches to get through the top of the ninth and got the victory when the Nationals pushed across their run in the bottom half of the inning.
