San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington DC Fri Jun 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

It was the battery of the San Francisco Giants that supplied the winning punch in the opener of their four-game series against the Washington Nationals.

Anthony DeSclafani threw his second shutout of the season, and Buster Posey supplied the big hit of the game, when he hit a solo home run off of Paolo Espino in the top of the fourth inning and the Giants defeated the Nationals 1-0 at Nationals Park.

DeSclafani was on fire from the get go, as he retired the first nine batters he faced and then Trea Turner pit an end to that streak with a single to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. He did not allow another hit until Josh Bell doubled off of DeSclafani with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was the third career shutout for DeSclafani and third complete game of his career, as he allowed just those two hits, walked just one and struck out eight on his way to his sixth win of the season against two losses.

This was the Giants major-league leading ninth shutout of the season, while the Nationals were shutout for the eighth time this season.

Posey hit a slider off of Espino that landed in the Giants bullpen for his 11th home run of the season.

The 11 home runs by Posey are more than he hit in both 2018 and 2019, and his career-high is 24 home runs in 2012, the year that he won the Most Valuable Player and helped lead the Giants to their second World Series Championship in three years.

Espino came on to replace Nationals starter Max Scherzer in the top of the 1st inning, as the three-time Cy Young Award winner was forced to leave the game after just 12 pitches after he felt a tweak in his groin.

An MRI was taken of Scherzers groin and it turned out to be an inflammation and he considers himself as day-to-day.

Mike Tauchman came up with another huge catch to rob Juan Soto of a potential game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

It was the second time in three weeks that Tauchman made a game-saving catch, as he robbed Albert Pujols of potential game-winning home run on May 28 at Dodger Stadium.

That was insane huge catch, DeSclafani said. If you dont make that its a tie ballgame and I probably dont go nine.

Espino, who was forced into the game in the top of the first inning went 3.1 innings, allowing the only run of the game on three hits. Following Espino, four more relievers for the Nationals allowed just one hit and retired the final 16 Giants in a row.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants traded Matt Wisler to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-handed reliever Michael Plassmeyer, who will report to Double-A Richmond.

According to Giants manager Gabe Kapler, Curt Casali, who is out with a left wrist strain and Mike Yastrzemski, who is out with a sprained right thumb should be reinstated from the 10-day injured list on Saturday. While, Darin Ruf, who is on the injured list with a right hamstring could be back when the Giants return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Oracle Park. Caleb Baragar, out with inflammation in his left elbow was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for his eighth win of the season in the opener of a split doubleheader for the Giants, while the Nationals will send Erick Fedde to the mound.