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Final Score: LA Angels 3 - Washington 2

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - John Lackey recorded his fourth consecutive victory and Garret Anderson singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as the Angels escaped with a miniscule 3-2 victory over Washington in the opener of a three-game set.

Lackey (5-1) cruised through eight innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and two walks, while fanning six for the Angels, who improved to 32-13 in games decided by two runs-or-less. Francisco Rodriguez tossed a scoreless ninth en route to his major league-leading 31st save of the season.

"He pitched a great ball game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Lackey. "Once we get a little offense going we can take a little bit of pressure (off). He was pitching with his back to the wall all game. It was eight terrific innings that we certainly needed."

Erick Aybar and Casey Kotchman each had two hits and a run scored in Los Angeles' fourth straight win.

Washington's Jason Bergmann didn't factor into the decision, extending his winless streak to seven straight starts. The righty allowed just one run on six hits with six strikeouts over seven innings, but Saul Rivera (3-4) yielded two runs -- one earned -- in his inning of relief to take the loss.

Willie Harris homered, tripled and scored both of the Nationals' runs, but it was not enough in the club's sixth loss in seven games.

Rivera relieved Bergmann in the eighth and couldn't hold on to a 2-1 lead. Chone Figgins bunted his way on, stole second and moved to third when Jesus Flores' throw went into center field.

Aybar then laced a grounder that second baseman Felipe Lopez couldn't handle and Figgins came in to score. Aybar hustled his way to second on the error and scored the eventual winning run on Anderson's single up the middle.

Rodriguez struck out three batters in the ninth, including Harris to end the game with the tying run on second base after Ronnie Belliard walked and stole second with two outs. The closer is on pace for 65 saves this season, which would shatter the major league record of 57 set by Bobby Thigpen in 1990.

The start of the game was delayed one hour and 10 minutes due to rain, but both starters dealt quickly and effectively throughout.

Harris put the Nationals on the board first by crushing Lackey's first offering in the third frame over the right-center field wall for his second homer in as many games.

Bergmann yielded just one base hit through four innings, but struggled in the fifth. A single and double put a pair in scoring position with no outs, but Bergmann kept the damage to just one run, as Jeff Mathis flew out deep enough to left to bring in Kotchman for the tying run.

Harris was instrumental again in the seventh, sending a one-out shot to the right-field gap and legging out a triple.

Despite Bergmann needing just 82 pitches to get through seven innings of one- run ball, Washington manager Manny Acta decided to pinch hit for him with Paul Lo Duca, who sent a come-back liner right back to the mound. Lackey caught the liner, but his off-balanced throw trying to double-off Harris at third skipped into left field, bringing in the go-ahead run.