Burly dudes smashing homers and forearms? Either this is Oakland in 1989, or Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman are engaging on a powerful nostalgia trip. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Nationals 8, Pirates 4: Big innings — when the Nationals get them, they’re quite difficult to beat. On this road trip, the Nationals scored four runs or more in an inning five times during their four wins — and had no such high-scoring frames in their four losses. Last night in Pittsburgh, they had two: four runs in both the sixth and seventh counteracted yet another Andrew McCutchen home run and three errors in the field. The finale of the four-game series was a good one for the middle of the lineup and the infield. 2-3-4 hitters Cristian Guzman, Ryan Zimmerman (who homered for the second straight game), and Adam Dunn (who also went yard, his 27th) all had multiple RBI and the front defensive six turned three double plays to snuff out multiple Pirate threats. Starter Garrett Mock still couldn’t get past the fifth inning, but Tyler Clippard (2-1) continued his quality mop-up work and was rewarded with the victory. The win caps a fairly successful swing through the rust belt which finds the Nationals returning home no more worse for wear than when they left. Their homecoming present? A three-game set against former Nat Nick Johnson and the Marlins, a team Washington hasn’t defeated all year.