Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Maybe what the San Francisco Giants needed was a trip outside the state of California for the first time this season.

Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt and Steven Duggar each hit home runs off of Stephen Strasburg, as the Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 7-3 at Nationals Park.

Entering the game, the Giants hit only 10 games in 17 games, only the Detroit Tigers, who hit seven in their first 15 games have hit fewer.

With the victory, the Giants have won four out of their last five, that included a fantastic performance on the mound by Dereck Rodriguez.

He went five innings, allowing just one run on five hits, walking three and striking out six, as he improved to 2-2 on the young season.

Longoria led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run that tied up the game, and then after a single, Duggar launched a 92 mile per hour Strasburg over the left-center field wall to give the Giants the lead for good.

Belt hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, for his fourth home run of the season.

The Giants closed out their scoring in the top of the seventh inning, as Nationals reliever Matt Grace was charged with an error, as he was unable to cover a bunt and then committed another error, when he jumped in the way of a teammate at first base.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez was ejected by home plate umpire Tony Randazzo for arguing called third strikes against Brian Dozier and Anthony Rendon.

Strasburg may have been saddled with the loss, but he did pickup his first extra-base hit since the 2016 season.

In all, Strasburg went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, not walking a batter and striking out eight; however, his one downfall was the three home runs that he allowed and lsot for the first time this season against one win.

Once again, the Giants bullpen fared good, as the quintet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon and Will Smith went a combined four innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out four.

NOTES: Tyler Austin (right elbow) should not have to go on the injured list, and may start the series finale at first base on Thursday.

The news is not good for 2018 first-round pick Joey Bart, who will miss the next four to six weeks after a fracturing his left hand after getting hit by a pitch on Monday night.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija takes the mound, as he looks to back up his fantastic seven inning performance on Thursday night against the Colorado Rockies, as he faces right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.