Tag: Washington Nationals

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (26) beats out a throw at first base as the Washington Nationals first baseman Curtis Mead (center) waits for the late throw in the top of the third inning at Nationals Park in DC on Sun Apr 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants fell short in their bid for their first sweep of the season losing Sunday in game three 3-0. They did finish the game with eight hits but both teams at times looked sluggish after the marathon 12 inning game Saturday. The Nationals had seven hits in the game most of them in the seventh inning resulting in the three runs that won this ball game at Nationals Park.

Game wrap: It was a very shaky start for the Nationals in the opening inning. Luis Arraez reached first base on a fielding error. Rafael Devers hit a single and with two runners on base and two outs that was it for National’s pitcher PJ Poulin. After only 2/3 of an inning he was relieved by Miles Mikolas who got out of the inning. The Nationals got a hit in the bottom of the inning but that would be it going into the second inning.

Each team got a hit in the second inning but no runs through two innings. It was much the same in the third inning with each team having one hit, a lot of singles, but no runs. The Giants had a a couple of hits in the fourth inning with two runners on base but again no runs.

The Nationals went three and out in the bottom of the fourth. Washington had a couple of long balls that were just foul but the game remained scoreless. Perhaps the temperature and the winds had something to do with the decline in offense for both teams or possibly fatigue after Saturday’s game but these guys looked tired.

Andrew Alvarez would relieve Miles Mikolas mid-way through the fifth inning. He pitched through four innings allowing four hits, one walk with four strikeouts and no runs.

It was just a matter of time before one of these teams would get up on the scoreboard. Unfortunately for San Francisco it was the Nationals who took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

San Francisco had gone three and out in the top of the inning. The Nationals were about to turn this game around. Nasim Nunez bunted a single to start the bottom of the inning. Keibert Ruiz doubled Nunez home for a 1-0 game and Curtis Mead finished off the inning with a two run home run with Ruiz on base for a 3-0 lead.

The Giants Casey Schmitt doubled in the top of the sixth inning but did not score. The Nationals Joey Weimer also doubled but the Nats did not score and the game remained 3-0.

San Francisco had some work to do. In the early innings the Giants had some scoring opportunities but were unable to cash in. They were down to three innings left in the game to make a move.

Not much was going on for San Francisco in the top of the seventh inning. Patrick Bailey grounded out and Willy Adames struck out for the third time today and Luis Arraez ground out for a three and out going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Giants Robbie Ray was relieved after 93 pitches by Keaton Winn after going six innings. Ray finished allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

The Giants got something going in the eighth inning with two runners on base, Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers with no outs. Schmitt hit into a double play and Chapman moved on to third now with two outs. Jerar Encarnacion struck out for the third out and San Francisco missed a great scoring opportunity and now had a single inning left in the game. The Giant’s JT Brubaker would relieve Winn in the eighth inning. Winn had one strikeout easily getting out of the eighth inning.

San Francisco was now down to their last three outs going into the top of the ninth inning. Ramos had a monster hit to start the inning, deep to center for a double. Drew Gilbert popped out with Daniel Susac at the plate. Susac struck out and San Francisco was down to their last out. Adames was the Giants last hope to keep this game going. The Giants were 10-0 with runners on base. Adames grounded out and that was the ball game 3-0 in favor of the Nationals.

Game notes: The Giants took on the Nationals Sunday in game three of their series after an exciting marathon yesterday that went 12 innings on Saturday. The extra innings were full of drama with the Nationals loading the bases in the tenth with a chance to win the game but coming away empty in a 7-6 loss.

Both teams fought hard in this game Saturday with San Francisco coming away with the win. This has been a great series for Matt Chapman coming through with some key hits in the first two games. Heliot Ramos has also been a highlight going 3-5 Saturday.

For Sunday a threatening front passed over the field before the game and it turned into a beautiful yet very chilly Sunday. The temperature at first pitch was 54 degrees but felt more like 44 so fans and some of the players were bundled up for this one. As this game wore on the wind really became a factor as well.

The Giants finished this road trip 4-5 and now will head back to Oracle Park in San Francisco for a series with the Los Angeles that gets underway Tuesday.

The Dodgers come into this three game series the best team in baseball 15-6 despite loosing to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday 9-6. The Dodgers will start ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto in game one, he has a 2-1 win/loss record and a 2.10 ERA.

The Giants will feature Tyler Mahle on the hill. Mahle has a 0-3 win/loss record and a 7.23 ERA. First pitch for the opener in this series is scheduled for 6:45 PM PDT.

San Francisco Giants hitter Drew Gilbert swings for a single off Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli (not shown) for an RBI that scored Helliot Ramos (not shown) at Nationals Park in DC on Sat Apr 18, 2026 (AP news photo)

By Barbara Mason

It took the San Francisco Giants (9-12) 12 innings to win game two of their series with the Washington Nationals (9-12) by a 7-6 score. Each team had opportunities in the extra innings to win but it was the Giants who prevailed.Heliot Ramos had another amazing game as did the entire roster with nearly every player in the lineup with at least one hit, some of them with multiple hits. The Giants struggled to start the game but they fought back and finished the game with a win.

Game recap: Lead-off batter James Wood got the game going in favor of the Nationals hitting a solo home run in the first inning for the early 1-0 lead. That hit preempted an explosive second inning for both teams. San Francisco tied up the game in the top of the second inning coming away with three hits and one run.

Jung Hoo Lee singled, Heliot Ramos doubled, Gilbert singled Ramos home and we had a tie ball game. The Nationals had a crazy bottom of the second inning scoring four runs off of three hits taking a 5-1 lead. It was a rough inning for Giant starter Adrian Houser who not only gave up three hits but also a walk. He hit James Wood with the bases loaded so it was not his best outing so far in this game.

San Francisco had some catching up to do and they did just that in the top of the third inning scoring two runs on two hits . Luis Arraez singled and Casey Schmitt doubled driving in Matt Chapman who scored on a fielding error and Arraez. The Giants had cut the Nationals lead to 5-3. Washington came up empty in the bottom of the third inning.

Each team had a hit in the fifth inning but neither were able to score. With a bit of ground to make up, San Francisco made it happen scoring two runs in the top of the sixth tying up the game 5-5.

Ramos who hit a three run home run in Friday’s game came up huge hitting a two run home run with Lee on second base. San Francisco had new life after having trailed by four runs.

Going into the seventh inning San Francisco was looking to break the 5-5 tie. Willy Adames got the inning going with a single moving onto second base on a wild pitch. Rafal Devers singled driving Adames home and the Giants had the lead for the first time in the game 6-5. The Nationals had no hits, no runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Going into the bottom of the ninth inning the score remained 6-5 in favor of the Giants. San Francisco was one out away from winning this game. With two outs, Brady House singled Wood, (who had been intentionally walked) home and this game was again tied at 6-6.

Neither team was able to finish this game in the tenth inning, the Giants with no hits, no runs and the Nationals with one hit but no runs in the bottom of the inning. This game would go on into the 11th inning yielding nothing for either team, no runs and no hits.

San Francisco took the lead in the top of the 12th inning 7-6 in a marathon. Matt Chapman singled Arraez home from second base. Now the Giants would be looking for three outs and the win in game two.

The Nationals were threatening in the bottom of the inning with two runners on base but two outs. Abrams flied out, Young lined out and for a third time the Giants were one out away from the win. Could the third time be a charm for San Francisco?

Closer Caleb Killian struck out Daylen Lile for the third out and that was the ball game. The Giants had won the second game of the series and their third game in a row.

San Francisco’s Adrian Houser went 5 2/3 innings allowing seven hits, five runs, two walks and one strike out. Relief pitchers Ryan Borucki finished the sixth inning. Erik Miller finished the seventh, Matt Gage the eighth, Ryan Walker the ninth and tenth.

It was a great game for closer Caleb Kilian who pitched the 11th and 12th innings and came away with the victory. After the game he did say that he was still shaking. The bottom line is that he didn’t show his nerves, he got the job done and got the win for San Francisco.

Game notes: Friday the Giants won their series opener beating the Nationals. The Giants had an outstanding second inning scoring six runs setting the stage for the eventual win. Saturday San Francisco won game two of the series and their third game in a row.

It’s difficult to say who the player of the game was. Every player on the roster contributed to the win with Matt Chapman leading the pack with three hits and three RBIs. Heliot Ramos hit a three run homer along with Casey Schmitt and Drew Gilbert each hitting solo home runs on Friday night.

The Giants offense is cranking and they got more scoring seven runs just enough to edge the Nationals at Nationals Park in DC. San Francisco starter Adrian Houser went 5.2 innings giving up seven hits and four earned runs. For Washington’s starter Cade Cavalli four innings of work, seven hits and one earned run allowed and struck out five batters.

Sunday San Francisco will be going for the sweep in game three. Both teams could be emotionally and physically drained after Saturday’s game but they will be on an equal playing field. The only difference will be that it was the Giants who came away with the win in game two. Robbie Ray will take the mound for the Giants with a 2-2 win/loss record and a 2.42 ERA. Miles Mikolas has struggled with a 0-3 win/loss record and a 11.49 ERA. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 10:35 AM PDT.

San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos is thrilled after hitting a three run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the top of the second inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Fri Apr 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (8-12) won the first game in their series with the Washington Nationals (9-11) 10-5. They scored multiple runs early in the second inning after leading after two innings 6-0. The offense everyone has been waiting to see finally revealed itself and it was great. Every single player in the lineup had at least one hit and Matt Chapman had 3 hits.

Game recap: The first inning was uneventful for both teams, the Giants Luis Arraez singled but that was it for the opening inning. The Nationals went three and out.

San Francisco got something really big going, more like an explosion, in the second inning. They strung out some hits with Casey Schmitt and Jung Hoo Lee both singling and then a big hit off the bat of Heliot Ramos for a three-run home run to center taking a 3-0 lead.

Daniel Susac singled but was thrown out trying to steal second base. With only one out, Drew Gilbert walked followed by a Willy Adames single. The Giants went back to work putting more runners on base. Luis Arraez grounded out and with two outs a Chapman single drove Gilbert and Adames home for a 5-0 lead.

San Francisco was not finished. Rafael Devers doubled and Chapman scored pushing the lead to 6-0 in favor of the Giants. A rough inning for the Nationals finally came to an end when Schmitt flied out but San Francisco had a huge inning already with six hits in the game. Starting pitcher for Washington Zack Littell gave up eight hits and six runs in the second inning.

Meanwhile Logan Webb worked his way through the second inning giving up a CJ Abrams single and then dismissed the next three at bats and this game went into the third inning. Webb was systematically working his way through the Washington lineup giving up very little.

San Francisco had scored a lot and they had scored early a huge edge going forward in the game but there was still a lot of baseball to be played. That aside what a great way to start a ball game for the Giants.

Littell had a vastly improved in the third inning, his best of the game with a three and out. The Nationals got something going in the bottom of the third, Jose Tena and Keibert Ruiz had back to back singles.

Top of the batting order for Washington James Wood came to the plate with no outs. Webb was in a bit of a jam but he did strike Wood out. The next at bat for the Nationals was a fielders choice ground out but Jose Tena scored for the first National run of the game.

With two outs there were two runners on base for Washington but Webb got the third out without giving up a lot. It had been a long inning for Webb; he already had a 55 pitch count going into the top of the fourth inning. San Francisco had given up the one run still leading 6-1.

The Giants got a great hit in the fourth inning from the bottom of the batting order. Drew Gilbert hit a solo home run, his first of the year, to right center, the second of the game for San Francisco.

Adames followed that home run up with a double. With Adames on third Chapman singled driving in another run for an 8-1 score.11 hits through four innings plus every player on the roster with at least a hit was probably the best game the team has played so far this season. Littell’s pitch count was really getting up there as well with 77 pitches though four innings.

The Nationals cut the Giants lead in the bottom of the fourth to 8-3 when Daviid Liles hit a 2-run home run with Joey Weimer on base. 79 pitches later Webb got out of the inning.

Littell was relieved in the fifth inning by Paxton Schultz. Littell allowed 11 hits, 8 runs, 1 walk, 2 home runs and 4 strikeouts.

The hits quieted down in the second half of the game for the Giants. San Francisco had one hit in the fifth inning, a Susac double but that would close out the inning. The Nationals went three and out in the inning and this game was moving along. It only took Webb five pitches to get out of the inning.

It was a three and out in the sixth inning for San Francisco. The Nationals were able to score in the bottom of the sixth. A Lile walk resulted in a fourth run for Washington when Tena singled him home for an 8-4 San Francisco lead.

The Giants extended their lead with a third home run in the top of the seventh inning 9-4. Schmitt hit a solo long ball 399 feet to left center. The Nationals would answer in the bottom of the inning when Wood blasted a Matt Gage pitch out of the park. Gage had relieved Webb after six innings. Webb finished with 7 hits, 4 runs 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. He allowed one home run.

Washington’s PJ Poulin relieved Schultz going into the eighth inning . Schultz had pitched for three innings for the Nationals. Schultz finished with 2 hits, 1 run, (a home run) and 1 strikeout. The Giants Caleb Kilian would take over for Gage in the eighth inning only giving up a walk and it was on to the ninth inning.

Richard Lovelady relieved Poulin in the ninth inning. The Giants threatened to bust this game wide open to finish. Lovelady gave up a single to Arraez, and a single to Chapman with no outs.

Lovelady went on to strike out Devers and Schmitt popped out for two outs. Lee walked loading the bases followed by a Ramos walk and Arraez scored. Getting that third out was a horrible struggle for Lovelady.

When all the dust had settled and the Nationals got that third out, the Giants were leading 10-5. It was only the one run scored but could have been a whole lot worse for Washington. Blade Tidwell closed out the game for the Giants winning game one 10-5.

Game notes: After breaking a four game losing streak Thursday beating the Reds 3-0, the Giants began a three-game weekend series with the Nationals at blustery Nationals Park Friday night. At the start of the game the winds were fairly calm and so wind was not be a factor in the game Friday night.

The Giants continued their winning streak with a convincing 10-5 win Friday night. Adames lead-off and Heliot Ramos batted seventh, Daniel Susac eighth and Drew Gilbert ninth. After Adames, Arraez, Chapman, Devers, Schmitt and Lee will fill in the roster.

The Giants had won the series opener. San Francisco finished the game with 15 hits and had won their second game in a row.

For Saturday’s game Adrian Houser will take the mound for the Giants in game two. Houser has an 0-2 win/loss record and a 5.06 ERA. Cade Cavalli will get the nod for the Nationals with a 0-1 win/loss record and a 4.60 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM PDT.

San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander got lit up for five runs and 11 hits in five innings of pitching at Oracle Park against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

SF Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander dropped his record even further to 1-9 after suffering a 8-0 clobbering by the sufferable Washington Nationals on Sunday.

#2 Despite the loss Verlander achieved a monumental career plateau striking out his 3500th strikeout becoming the tenth pitcher in MLB history to achieve such an accomplishment.

#3 The Nats CJ Abrams slugged a home run and made Verlander’s 3500th career strikeout almost forgettable after Verlander got lit up after pitching five innings allowing 11 hits, five runs, one walk, six strikeouts.

#4 The Giants open a three game set against the visiting San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Starting for the Padres RHP Yu Davish (1-3 ERA 6.51) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (10-8 ERA 3.24)

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Photo credit: San Francisco Giants pitcher Justin Verlander acknowledges the crowd after striking out Washington Nationals’ Nathaniel Lowe in the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Aug 10, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP)

By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants had visions of getting back into the National League Wild Card race after an inspiring 4-2 road trip, but they came back to earth at the end of their home series against the Washington Nationals on Sunday in a 8-0 shutout loss.

The Giants currently sit four games out of the third and final Wild Card spot. In terms of the math, it looks doable. But in the eye test, the Giants look like they are a trek across the Sahara Desert away from reaching the postseason.

The Giants fell back to .500, 59-59. It was more of the same–wasted opportunities after getting the leadoff hitter on, a plethora of strikeouts, and a sub-.500 team with younger and more-exciting talent running circles around a seemingly-sluggish Giants team.

The top of the first inning started off great for the Giants. Verlander struck out the side, and in doing so, notched his 3500th career strikeout. A great feat for a great pitcher. But then, the trouble started.

“The rest was awful,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “I mean we have 40,000 people here, and we don’t give them anything to root for the entire game other than that. So, unfortunately, that probably is as disappointing a game as he had all year.”

Unfortunately for the Giants, the game was lost in the second inning. With runners at second and third and nobody out, Verlander struck out Nationals first baseman Brady House and got center fielder Jacob Young to ground out to second with the infield in.

But then, Verlander hung a 3-2 slider to James Wood, which he lined down the first base line for a 2-run double. Verlander had made Wood look silly on a couple of fastballs up in the zone earlier in the at-bat.

Then, CJ Abrams launched a two-run homer off the right-field foul pole on a similar hanging, 2-strike slider. The Nationals were up 4-0, but it may as well been 20-0.

The Nationals would add on lone runs in the fourth and sixth inning, followed by two unearned runs in the seventh.

Abrams would end the day 2-for-5 with a home run and a single. Former Giant Paul DeJong continued to torture the Giants with a 3-for-5 day.

The Giants had no answer for Nationals starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who pitched six shutout innings, striking out 10 Giants. 40,089 Giants fans at Oracle Park had very little to cheer about on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the city.

“I’m frustrated that our fans come out and support us every night, and we gave them literally nothing today,” Melvin said.

The Giants could only scatter three hits for the game.

The highlight of the game for the Giants? A scoreless ninth inning from Christian Koss, a position player who came in to save the bullpen.

The Giants will try to get right against the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Oracle Park. Ace Logan Webb will try to get the Giants back into the win column.

Time is running out for the 2025 season, and if the Giants don’t want to be a team on the outside looking in for the eighth time in the last nine years, they’ll have to find that jetliner in an oasis to get them across the Sahara.

Or will that jetliner be another mirage?

Starting pitchers for Monday night the San Diego Padres have not announced a starter and the Giants will be going with RHP Logan Webb (10-8 ERA 3.24) first pitch at 6:45pm PT.