Josh Bell hit a two-run homer against his former team, and the Washington Nationals sent the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates to their 10th straight loss, 3-1, on Wednesday.

Yan Gomes homered for the second straight game for Washington, which has won four straight and six of eight.

Paolo Espino (1-2) pitched five scoreless innings for his first major league win. The 34-year-old journeyman made the start in place of Max Scherzer, who went on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with groin inflammation.

Bell spent the past five seasons with Pittsburgh before being traded to Washington in December.

Brad Hand got the final five outs for his 13th save despite allowing two hits in the ninth.

Pittsburgh starter Chase De Jong (0-1) allowed a run on four hits in four innings.

The Nationals were without infielder Starlin Castro, who was placed on the restricted list while he deals with a family matter.

Gomes, who hit a grand slam in the first inning Tuesday, hit a shot to left-center in the second to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.

The Pirates got runners to second and third with one out in the fourth inning, but Espino struck out Phillip Evans and got Ben Gamel to ground out.

Using a walk and two singles, the Nationals loaded the bases with one out in their half of the fourth, but De Jong struck out Jordy Mercer and then Victor Robles popped out.

The Nationals loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on a single and two walks. This time, reliever Chris Stratton retired Robles and pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman on fly balls.

Washington hitters are 10-for-63 (.159) this season with the bases loaded.

With two outs in the seventh, Kyle Finnegan came out of the Nationals' bullpen to strike out pinch-hitter Colin Moran with two men on.

After Juan Soto singled with two outs in the seventh, Bell homered to center off David Bednar to make it 3-0.

The Pirates got on the board in the eighth when Ke'Bryan Hayes doubled and scored on a single by Bryan Reynolds, who had two hits.

--Field Level Media