By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Joe Panik returned to the lineup, and the Giants had an opportunity to become only the second big league club to reach 60 wins, but Tanner Roark and the Nationals kept the NL West leaders out of the win column for at least one more night.

Roark improved to 4-0 lifetime against the Giants, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits and a run, in Washington’s 4-2 win in the battle of division leaders.  Roark escaped numerous jams as the Giants failed to come up with a hit with runners in scoring position, going 0 for 9 on the night.

Johnny Cueto suffered through a lengthy second inning, in which allowed three runs, all with two outs, and was denied the opportunity to grab his 14^th win of the season. Cueto settled down, and got through the fifth inning, but his outing was tied for the shortest this season. The Giants’ ace has now failed to win any of his three starts after the All-Star break.

The Giants attempted to rally in the ninth inning, loading the bases with one out, and knocking Washington closer Jonathon Papelbon from the game, but a pair of relievers came on to retire Denard Span and Angel Pagan swinging to end the game.

“We could’ve used a big hit there to really pick this club when you’re in a streak like this, but they got out of it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We just couldn’t quite finish it there in the ninth. It would’ve done a lot for the club.”

The idle Dodgers moved within two games of the NL West lead as the Giants’ cushion has evaporated in a streak in which they’ve lost 10 of 12. The Giants couldn’t respond on the field Thursday, but they did consummate the only trade of the day with the trade deadline approaching on Monday.

The Giants acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the Twins in exchange for minor league pitcher Adalberto Mejia. The 29-year old Nunez was named an All-Star for the first time, hitting .300 this season while leading the AL in stolen bases with 26. Nunez is expected to join the team on Saturday.

Panik returned to the active roster and batted third, but went hitless in four at-bats. The Giants’ top four hitters—Span, Pagan, Panik and Buster Posey—combined to go 1 for 17 with a walk. After decent offensive outputs on Monday and Tuesday, the Giants’ bats have been quiet for two straight games.

Conor Gillaspie had a pair of hits for the Giants, but either Gillaspie or infielder Ramiro Pena figure to lose their roster spot with Hunter Pence and Ehire Adrianza poised to return from the disabled list, with one or both expected back this weekend. GM Bobby Evans confirmed that the Giants are still in talks to acquire help for the bullpen, with San Diego’s Andrew Cashner and Tampa Bay’s Alex Colome prominent among the numerous names that might be available.

On Friday, the Giants have Jeff Samardzija on the pitchers’ mound in a matchup with Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer at 7:15pm.