WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg fiddled with the bottom of his grey T-shirt and stared blankly ahead, unaccustomed to his Washington Nationals struggling day after day the way they are at the moment. "We need to win some games," Strasburg said. "Its getting to the point where our backs against the wall." A popular pick to follow up last years majors-leading 98 wins and playoff appearance with a deep run, Washington is in a real rut right now. Wasting Strasburgs 12-strikeout performance, and held without a hit by Pittsburghs Francisco Liriano until the sixth inning, the Nationals lost to the Pirates 4-2 Wednesday night, their sixth consecutive defeat since the All-Star break. "When things get tough ... your true colours really come out. Its all about what type of person you are. Are you the type thats going to sit there and look in the mirror and do everything you can to be better out there? Or are you going to start pointing fingers?" Strasburg said. "I dont think theres a single guy in the clubhouse whos going to start pointing fingers. Every single guy in here is responsible and we all want to win just as bad as any other team out there." The reigning NL East champions are currently in third place, a season-worst nine games behind the Atlanta Braves, and the offence is mainly to blame. The Nationals have scored only 13 runs during their 0-6 slide, which is part of a 2-11 stretch. Already the owner of one previous no-hitter, Liriano (10-4) walked the first batter he faced, then retired 11 in a row before another walk. Five more outs followed, before rookie Anthony Rendon reached on what was ruled an infield single with two away in the sixth. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez -- who earlier homered off Strasburg -- dove to his left to stop the ball, but it popped out of his glove, and he couldnt quite corral it. The next batter walked, but Liriano struck out cleanup hitter Jayson Werth looking. "Everything was working the way I wanted tonight," said Liriano, who wound up allowing two hits in 7 2-3 innings. The Pirates tacked on three insurance runs in the ninth against relievers Drew Storen and Fernando Abad, thanks to Neil Walkers RBI double and Michael McKenrys two-run single. That became pivotal when Werth hit a two-run shot, his 15th homer, off Justin Wilson in the bottom half. Werth is seemingly the only Nationals batter capable of producing at the moment; hes hit five homers in the past four games. Wilson was replaced by Mark Melancon, who got the last three outs to earn his third save -- ending with a double play on which second baseman Walker whiffed on his attempted tag of lead runner Wilson Ramos. "Not even close. He never tagged me," Ramos said. He argued the call with umpire Laz Diaz, to no avail. "Maybe," Ramos said, "he (wanted) to go home." Nationals spokesman John Dever declined to check whether the umpiring crew would respond to reporters request for comment. Washington centre fielder Denard Spans take: "Its no secret that the ball definitely isnt bouncing our way. That wasnt the story of the game tonight, but anything couldve happened if that play isnt called there." The Nationals are a season-worst five games under .500 at 48-53. Already having all sorts of trouble at the plate -- so much so that the club fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein this week -- Washingtons starting lineup was missing All-Star left fielder Bryce Harper and shortstop Ian Desmond. Harper was held out as a precaution after getting treatment on the left knee that landed him on the disabled list earlier this season, while Desmond is dealing with a blister on his left hand. The last time Washington lost more than six consecutive games was nearly four years ago: They dropped eight in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, 2009, according to STATS LLC -- shortly after signing Strasburg as the No. 1 overall pick in that years amateur draft. This was Strasburgs ninth career game with 10 or more strikeouts and first this season. His career high remains the 14 Ks from his major league debut on June 8, 2010, against Pittsburgh. "I want to be the big dog in the rotation; that comes with the territory. The sixth inning isnt cool anymore, for me," Strasburg said. "I want to go seven, eight and hopefully nine sometime." Strasburg (5-8) did not walk anyone in eight innings Wednesday, giving up only one run and two hits, all in the second inning. That included the leadoff shot by Pedro Alvarez, who drove a 96 mph fastball over the wall in right-centre for his 26th homer. "A backspin 2-iron," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle called it. "Ive seen a lot of home runs. Ive seen a lot of hard-hit balls. But that one got my attention." Notes: Melancon is filling in for closer Jason Grilli, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. ... Nationals manager Davey Johnson said LHP Ross Detwiler is expected to miss a month with a back injury. ... On Thursday, the Nationals will start LHP Gio Gonzalez (7-3, 2.89) against Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (4-7, 3.07). Buy Vans Shoes Wholesale . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Wholesale Vans Authentic .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.vansoutletcheap.com/ . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. Cheap Vans Shoes For Sale . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Vans Shoes Clearance . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Nottinghamshire 152 and 81 for 2 trail Warwickshire 311 (Clarke 74, Ambrose 72, Ball 4-76) by 78 runsScorecard Varun Chopra could be forgiven for the look of confusion on his face when asked whats gone wrong? in his Warwickshire career.After all, Chopra has been the clubs leading run-scorer for four of the last five seasons in all formats of the game. He was the only man in the side to reach 1,000 Championship runs in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He has played a crucial role in the club winning all three trophies since his arrival from Essex ahead of the 2010 season and, after leading his side to a first victory in the T20 competition in 2014, was captain of the side until January of this year.Even this season, when rain has limited him to 12 Championship innings, he has reached 50 six times - nobody in the top division has done so more often - and scored an unbeaten 97 in his only white-ball appearance. No England-qualified player has ever scored more runs in a T20 innings for Warwickshire and, in five of Warwickshires Championship matches this season, he has made their highest aggregate of runs.So it seems odd that Warwickshire have dropped him from their white-ball side. And it seems odd that Warwickshire have not offered him a new contract. Indeed, they seem resigned - bizarrely resigned - to losing him to another county without putting up much of a fight to retain him.It might be an understandable conclusion if Chopra was a difficult or divisive fellow. But he is far from that. Quite the opposite, really, with his unruffled nature having always been credited as an asset in the past.So the current situation has left him perplexed, frustrated and more than a bit concerned. To be dropped from the limited-overs sides was worrying enough but, having won a recall due to injury and made the 56-ball 97, to be dropped afterwards seemed to confirm his fears.Ive loved my time at Warwickshire, he tells ESPNcricinfo. But Ive had no contract offer and you sort of draw your own conclusions when that happens.Its been frustrating not to play white-ball cricket and its really disappointing not to have had a contract offer, but Ill continue to be professional and try to score as many runs as possible and win games for the club.I still have realistic ambitions to play for England. I turned 29 a week or so ago, so I know it realistically has to happen in the next couple of years and I know I probably have to continue to play Division One cricket. But my stats at the top-order are as ggood as just about anyone, I could play for eight or so more years and I feel Im just reaching my peak.ddddddddddddHe will have no shortage of suitors if he does leave. Alongside the Durham pair, Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick, Chopra is among the most proven top-order batsmen out of contract on the county circuit this season. ESPNcricinfo understands that three clubs, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire and Essex, are understood to have made 28-day approaches to talk to him, while several more, including Lancashire, are considering doing the same. He has not spoken to any of them, though, and seems to retain hopes that Warwickshire may yet offer him a new deal.Ive yet to speak to any other clubs, he says. So my door is open. I think of myself as a proper Bear. But I am a professional cricketer, its a short career, I still have ambitions and I do need to look after my future.There was just over one session of play possible at Edgbaston on Tuesday before rain intervened. Jake Ball, who had been heavily bowled on Monday, did not take to the field after complaining of a sore elbow. The club say the decision to rest him was purely precautionary and he is expected to bowl in the second innings - in the unlikely event that the rain relents - and in Nottinghamshires T20 Blast game on Friday night.That will be a relief to the England management. Ball was watched by James Whitaker and Andy Flower during his excellent new-ball spell on Monday and looks certain to be included in the England squad for the first Investec Test of the series against Pakistan. With Ben Stokes and James Anderson struggling to recover fitness in time - it currently look as if both will miss the game - Ball has a good chance of making his Test debut. Luke Fletcher, who hurt his groin on day two, expects to return to action in a week or so.In the brief window of play possible, Warwickshire secured a third batting bonus point - a decent effort from 117 for 5 - and a first-innings lead of 159.But they then found Nottinghamshires batting more stubborn than first time around. Jake Libby was drawn into pushing at one angled across him and edged to slip while Michael Lumb was, for the second time in the match, beaten by a quicker one from Jeetan Patel, but Steven Mullaney looked solid and the rain - forecast to continue into the final day - may well save them from further trouble. ' ' '