Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (right) steals second base as San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames leaps to field the ball in the top of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Jun 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

Monday, June 8, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Washington Nationals 4 (34-33)

San Francisco Giants 2 (27-40)

Win: Clayton Beeter (2-1)

Loss: Keaton Winn (2-2)

Save: Gus Varland (5)

Time: 2:31

Attendance: 35,432

By Stephen Ruderman

A great start by Logan Webb was wasted, and for the sixth time this season, the Giants led in the ninth inning only to lose, as the Nationals tagged Keaton Winn for three runs in the top of the ninth en route to a 4-3 win Monday night.

The Giants looked to build on their momentum after winning four of their final five on their roadtrip, which ended with a nice series win in Chicago.

Logan Webb was lights out, and Tony Vitello let him go eight innings. Webb gave up just a run on five hits. He didn’t walk anyone, and he struck out seven. Webb has been nails in his last two starts, and it really does appear that his right knee bursitis was the main cause of his rough start to the season.

The Giants wasted a big opportunity off Nationals’ opener Richard Lovelady in the bottom of the first, and the offense was stymied for most of the night. However, after the Nationals got on the board against Webb in the top of the sixth, the Giants responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth.

The Giants then played the way they were built to in the bottom of the eighth. Jung Hoo Lee led off the inning with a base-hit, and got to second on an errant pickoff throw by Clayton Beeter. Bryce Eldridge then doubled to give the Giants the lead.

With runners at second and third with two outs, Tony sent Jonah Cox to the plate, and put on the squeeze. Cox laid down a perfect bunt along the first base line, and Eldridge scored to make it 3-1. Eldridge and Cox shared an emotional hug in the dugout, and it really felt like this was going to be the Giants’ night.

Well, as good of a season as Keaton Winn has had, he has not been particularly great in the ninth. Winn blew the save in Denver on May 29, and then gave up the game-tying home run to Pete Crow-Armstrong at Wrigley on Saturday.

The Nationals got to Winn for three runs. Dylan Smith, who got the save Sunday night, then finished the inning.

The Giants had one more wasted opportunity in them for the bottom of the ninth. Rafael Devers worked a 1-2 count into a walk against Gus Varland to start the inning, but Luis Arraez suffered a rare strikeout. Willy Adames tried to hit a walk-off home run, but flew out to center. Lee just had to tease us with a base-hit to right to put runners at the corners for Eldridge. Eldridge struck out, and that was all she wrote.

There were some positives in this game. Logan Webb seems to be back, as he has given up just one run and six hits in his last two starts. Remember his last start came against the best and peskiest offenses in the Brewers in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Jung Hoo Lee not only extended his hitting streak to 16 games, but he went 4-for-5 to up his average to .333. Matt Chapman went 2-for-3, and is swinging the bat like his old self again. I also can’t forget Bryce Eldridge’s 2-for-5 night. It would have been 3-for-5 had it not been for a great catch by Dylan Crews in the bottom of the fourth.

Unfortunately, the bullpen once again blew a late lead. As I said in the lead, the Giants have now lost six games this season in which they led in the ninth inning.

I also can’t leave out the missed challenge two strikes to James Wood and two outs in the top of the sixth. Had the pitch been challenged, it would have been strike three to end the inning. However, Eric Haase was loath to challenge after the Giants lost a challenge in the bottom of the first. Well, Wood ended up scoring, and that proved to be the difference in the game.

The Giants are now 27-40. Going back to the Giants’ six losses after leading in the ninth, there is a massive difference between 33-34 and 27-40. Buster Posey’s failure to sign relief help has haunted the Giants yet again. Unfortunately, this will likely not be the final time this happens.

If anyone is interested, Clayton Beeter got the win, and Keaton Winn took his second loss in three games. Gus Varland picked up the save.

Adrian Houser (2-5 ERA 5.49) for San Francisco will go against Andrew Alvarez (1-0 ERA 3.54) for Washington Tuesday night. First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.