PITTSBURGH — The Washington Nationals still aren't generating many runs, but they got just enough offense Sunday. The surprise was that their biggest hit came from one of their least-used players.

Jesus Flores' first major league homer, a two-run drive in the sixth inning, gave slumping Washington a three-run lead and the Nationals ended a five-game losing streak by holding off the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.

Mike Bacsik (2-5) won for the first time since May 24, shutting out the Pirates on three hits until being pulled during a two-run seventh aided by his own throwing error. Bacsik had lost five in a row — he allowed three homers in his previous start — and the Nationals had dropped his last six starts.

Afterward, a relieved Bacsik quoted a writer rarely cited by major leaguers for providing motivation: CBS news anchor Katie Couric, who isn't generating many numbers herself these days.

"There's a Katie Couric book I read to my daughter that she loves. One of the lines is something to the effect that if you never felt bad, you wouldn't know what it's like to feel good," Bacsik said. "There have been some outings lately for this team where we haven't felt good, we've felt bad. But this lets us know how good it feels to go out there and compete and win a game."

Despite winning four of their previous five, the Pirates looked lifeless against a struggling pitcher until Adam LaRoche singled and Jose Castillo doubled to start the seventh. Ronny Paulino reached when Bacsik's hurried throw on a slow roller to the right of the mound eluded first baseman Dmitri Young.

Bacsik was pulled for Luis Ayala, who gave up sacrifice flies to Jack Wilson and pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit but managed to keep Washington in the lead despite inheriting a bases-loaded, none-out situation.

Jon Rauch, who took the loss as the Pirates rallied from two runs down to win 3-2 Friday, struck out Xavier Nady and Jason Bay during a scoreless eighth. Chad Cordero pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 20 opportunities and 10th in his last 11 attempts.

"Hopefully, it's our turn to win some games," said Washington manager Manny Acta, whose team had lost 11 of 14.

It was another off day for the slumping Bay, an All-Star starter a year ago who was hitting .314 a month ago Sunday but is down to .262. He was given the night off Saturday — the first game he's missed this season and only the fourth in three seasons — but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Sunday. He also drew some boos when he couldn't reach a fly-ball single by Flores in the third that dropped a stride to his right.

The Flores hit that did the most damage was the homer.