Washington, DC (My Sportsbook) - Barry Zito threw five innings to earn his second win of the season and John Bowker hit a two-run homer as the San Francisco Giants defeated Washington, 6-3, in the third of a four-game series.

Randy Winn had two hits and a pair of runs batted in for the Giants, who have won three in a row and five of their last seven games. Aaron Rowand had two hits and an RBI, while Ray Durham finished 4-for-5 with a run scored as the Giants rallied from a three-run deficit by scoring four times in the fifth inning.

Zito (2-9) gave up three runs on seven hits, while striking out two and walking four. Brian Wilson recorded his 17th save of the season.

"Wins aren't definitely everything for a pitcher," Zito said. "I'm really happy the team has won the games I've started recently. For me, individually, things could be a lot better right now. I've just got to keep my nose to the grindstone."

Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI, while Wil Nieves drove in a run for Washington, which has dropped 10 of its last 13 games.

"I didn't think (Zito) had his best stuff," Milledge said. "I think he knows that."

Garrett Mock (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his major league debut. The righty was touched for four runs on seven hits, while walking three and not recording a strikeout over 4 1/3 innings. He was replacing veteran Odalis Perez, who was held out for a start due to tendinitis and the club's desire not to pitch John Lannan on short rest.

The Giants sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth. Emmanuel Burriss singled, Steve Holm walked and with one out Fred Lewis walked to load the bases. Jose Castillo then walked to force in a run.

After Saul Rivera replaced Mock, Winn greeted the reliever with a two-run base hit. Rowand then hit a grounder to short, but the ball took a bad hop, hitting Cristian Guzman in the head, allowing Castillo to score from second and giving the visitors a 4-3 advantage.

Washington tried responding in the home half of the fifth, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Wily Mo Pena grounded into a force out to end the frame.

Durham doubled with two outs in the seventh and Bowker followed with a homer to right.

Neither team was able to generate any offense the rest of the way and the game went to the bottom of the ninth with San Francisco still holding a three-run cushion. Wilson came on to try and close out the win and retired the first two batters, before issuing a walk to Felipe Lopez. The hard-throwing right-hander then got Guzman to ground out to first to end the game.

Milledge's fourth home run of the season, a shot to left-center in the first inning, gave the Nationals the early advantage.

The Nationals added to their lead in the third. Willie Harris started the inning with a bunt single, and after the next two batters were retired, Elijah Dukes drew a walk. Milledge then followed with a looping single to left, scoring Harris, but Dukes was thrown out attempting to reach third.

San Francisco threatened in the fourth, putting runners on first and third with one down, but Bowker lined into a double-play to end the inning.

With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the fourth, Nieves' sacrifice fly to right gave the Nats a 3-0 lead. Washington was looking for more, but with runners on the corners, Harris grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Game Notes

Washington is 9-7 versus San Francisco since the start of the 2006 season, winning five of nine at home in that span...The Giants outhit the Nationals, 14-8...The Giants have won the first three games of this series by a combined 22-4 margin...Winn has hit safely in 31 of his last 36 contests...Mock was returned to Triple-A Columbus after the came...Jesus Flores had his nine-game hitting streak snapped and right-hander Tyler Clippard is expected to be recalled from Columbus to start on Monday night.