Updated

Jordan Zimmermann tries to become the majors' first nine- game winner on Wednesday when the Washington Nationals continue the Beltway Series against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Zimmermann beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, holding them to a pair of runs and six hits in seven innings to run his record to 8-2 to go along with a 1.71 ERA.

"I try to go out there and go six, seven, eight innings, keep the team in the ballgame," Zimmermann said. "And this year it's been one of those years where I've felt pretty good, stringing good starts together and getting some run support, so I've been collecting a few more wins."

Zimmermann has faced the Orioles four times and is 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA.

The Nats split the first two portions of this set at Nationals Park. After losing the opener, it bounced back on Tuesday, as Adam LaRoche registered his 22nd career multi-home run game while Roger Bernadina and Tyler Moore also went deep to help Washington get past the O's, 9-3.

LaRoche finished with four RBI, Moore and Bernadina each drove in two runs and Denard Span added an RBI double for the Nationals, who have won four of six.

Zach Duke (1-1) earned the win after relieving Washington starter Nate Karns in the fifth.

In a matchup of relatively inexperienced pitchers -- Baltimore's Kevin Gausman, making his second career major league start versus Karns, making his MLB debut -- the Nationals plated four runs in the fourth to break a 3-3 tie and take control.

"I thought the kid pitched great," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said of Karns. "He should be proud of what he did, that's a hot-hitting ball club."

Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy both hit solo homers and Matt Wieters provided an RBI double for the Orioles in defeat. Gausman (0-2) allowed seven runs on eight hits over four frames to absorb the loss.

"He elevated some fastballs," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Gausman. "We had a tough time keeping the ball in the ballpark."

Getting the call for the Orioles on Wednesday will be righty Chris Tillman, who is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA. Tillman beat the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, as he limited them to three runs and 10 hits in five innings. He also struck out seven without walking a batter.

"The key was Tillman not walking anybody," Showalter said.

Tillman faced the Nats once before but did not get a decision, despite allowing just a run in five innings.

Baltimore took four of six games from the Nats last season.