Pirates edge Nationals for fifth straight victory

The Washington Nationals are running out of ways to describe a string of losses that always seem to end the same way - with a meltdown moment from the bullpen.

This time it was a wild pitch in the ninth inning, a two-out slider from Joel Hanrahan that bounced before it got to home plate. Freddy Sanchez scored from third base, the deciding run that gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 victory Wednesday night. It was their season-high fifth straight win and the Nationals' seventh consecutive loss.