San Francisco Giants Joc Pederson hit a ninth inning home run for the Giants only run of the night against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Washington (14-20). 500 000 000 – 5. 11 0

San Francisco (15-18). 000 000 001 – 1. 6. 0

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 20,502

Monday, May 8, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The old saying went, “Washington, first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League.” Times have changed, and now it would go, “Washington, first in war, first in peace, and last in the National League East.” The Nats came to town, flushed with victory after their come from behind 9-8 victory over the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. They sent Jake Irvin, who at 0-0, 2.08, was making his second major league start, to the mound.

Irvin throws four seamers about 35.8% of the time and curves another 34.6% Their average velocities are 92.6 and 79.3 mph, respectively He’s gone to the change of pace 16% of the time, averaging 87.7. His sinker (13.6) comes in at 92.4 mph.

The Giants opposed the 26 year old rookie with 33 year old veteran of eight big league campaigns, Anthony DeScalfani, who toed the rubber at (3-1,2.13).

The encounter ended with Washington on top, 5-1.

The Nationals jumped all over DeSclafani in the first, batting around and circling the bases five times on singles by Lane Thomas, Luis García, Keibert Ruíz, Joey Meneses, Dominic Smith, and CJ Abrams, with a double by Alex Cal thrown into the mix.

They probably would have scored more if it hadn’t been for some bonehead baserunning by Ruíz, who tried to advance to second on his safety even though Thomas, whose single had preceded his, was occupying the base.

Irvin didn’t exactly dominate the home team, but he did hold the Giants in check with a little help from a pitcher’s best friend; the Nationals pulled off three twin killings in the first four frames.

What’s more important is that the rookie righty didn’t allow a run while he was on duty, although he did leave two men on when exited after 6-1/3 innings. He’d allowed four hits and three walks, striking out five. 54 of his 92 pitches were strikes, and Carl Edwards, Jr., who replaced him, stranded the two legacy runners. He got his first big league win, and he deserved it.

DeScalfani had some rocky moments, but a couple of double plays and a great diving catch in the t top of the seventh by Mitch Haniger on Candelario’s dying swan kept the deficit down to five runs until his departure after seven frames, allowing those five first frame tallies, which came on seven hits, to which they added another three but no more runs, He struck out three and walked one. His replacement was Tristan Beck. But that first inning did the Giants’ starter in, and he took the loss.

Edwards pitched an ugly bottom of the eighth, allowing a single to Wisely, unleashing a wild pitch, and plunking LaWade, but the a double play wiped out his sins and the Giants.

San Francisco had one more shot at a win. They faced Andrés Machado, who fell behind leadoff hitter Joc Pederson before surrendering a 399 foot face saving home run to left. Davis then struck out on a clock violation called third strike. A grounder to the mound and a nice grab by shortstop Abrams of a liner by Hanger, and that was that.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6:47, the Nats’ Patrick Corbin (1-4, 5.17) will duel against Logan Webb (2-5, 3.80) in the second of this three game series.