Tag: Washington Nationals

Headline Sports with Tony Renteria: Harper not in Giants camp, so still anyone’s guess where he’s going

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washingtonpost.com file photo: Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle left and Bryce Harper right bump gloves last season. Harper is currently looking for a deal that fits his expectations including no short-term deals.

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony:

#1 Baseball’s biggest free agent Bryce Harper, who just talked with the San Francisco less than two weeks ago, is still looking for a big league club to sign with

#2 Harper was nowhere near Scottsdale for the Giants camp, while his name was dropped as a possibility. No one, but maybe himself knows what he’s up to.

#3 With Kyler Murray deciding on football, what do you think the odds are that he could play with the Oakland Raiders and stay a two-sport player and play for the A’s’?

#4 The A’s badly missed pitchers Jharel Cotton and A.J. Puk are returning after Cotton and Puk were out for most of last season after having Tommy John surgery.

#5 The Oakland Raiders are very close to getting a deal done with the Oakland Coliseum Authority. The Raiders, who vowed not to play at the Coliseum after last season, had no choice but to come back after the San Francisco Mayor London Breed gave the San Francisco Giants the message that the Raiders should stay in Oakland and talked about traffic issues if the team were to play it’s final season in San Francisco.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Can Nats re-sign Harper?; Brewers reach out to Giants for Bumgarner; Mets get Davis from Astros; plus more

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Photo credit: @jnevn

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What would it mean for the Washington Nationals in 2019 if they were able to re-sign Bryce Harper?

#2 Would the Dodger Manny Machado be in a deal for Bryce Harper seem possible or practical for both Dodgers and Nats?

#3 The Milwaukee Brewers have expressed interest in San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner. Will the Giants part with the lefty who was a big part of their World Series success?

#4 The New York Mets get JD Davis from Houston, sending catcher Kevin Palwecki to Houston who turned around and later got dealt to Cleveland. Palwecki will get more time behind the plate in Cleveland. As the Mets signed catcher Wilson Ramon to a two-year, $19 million deal.

#5 The Astros’ Dallas Keuchel is being floated on the free agency market. It shouldn’t take long before a team goes out and signs him.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Spanish play-by-play voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bryce? Nice!: Nats star Harper electrifies home crowd in Home Run Derby

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By Morris Phillips

WASHINGTON D.C. — Was this Bryce Harper’s swan song, or just another big moment in his continuing career with the Washington Nationals?

It’s difficult to say. But one thing’s certain: the moment lasted 50 seconds and it included nine home runs, each one electricifying Nationals Park and the team’s fans.

An obviously fatigued Harper finished the T-Mobile Home Run Derby with an adrenaline rush, catching finalist Kyle Schwarber with the last of the nine as the horn signaled that his time had expired. Then having earned the 30 seconds of bonus time, Harper delivered the contest winner on his final swing.

Harper then tossed his bat, and was handed the winner’s trophy as his National League teammates surrounded him.

“I was fortunate to share that and show that to the fans,” Harper said. “That wasn’t only for me and my family and everybody like that, but this is for the cook, the guy who that works the front and the people that work upstairs.

“I mean, this is [for] the whole city of D.C. I was very fortunate to be able to bring this back to them and do it here.”

Harper was joined by his father Ron, his pitcher for the evening, and his partner in previous Derbies. After raising the trophy above his head, Harper quickly passed the prize to Ron.

“I love this man, he’s my hero. To be able to do that with tonight, that’s a dream come true,” Harper said.

Both Harpers struggled down the stretch of the competition.  On a hot, muggy night with temperatures above 80 degrees, Bryce Harper made good use of his timeouts, and down time by hanging in the clubhouse and adjacent batting cage. Still, through the first two minutes of the final round, Harper appeared gassed without enough in his tank to overtake Schwarber.

At the same time, Ron Harper struggled to get the ball over the plate, at one point failing to get his son to offer at three, consecutive pitches. But then, after a final timeout, everything came together with Harper depositing nine balls beyond the outfield wall in his final ten swings.

The crowd of 43,698 followed suit, roaring with each successive swing. During the brief break before the 30-second, bonus period awarded for the length of his home runs, the crowd kept it up. Then on his second swing, Harper delivered the competition winner.

“For him to come in and do that–it was getting close to the wire–then all of a sudden, he started racking them of one at a time. You just accept your fate there,” Schwarber conceded.

“We have some of the best fans in all of baseball, and to be able to do that with my family out there, that’s an incredible moment, not only for me but for the organization and the Nationals fans. I’m very blessed and humbled.”

Harper became the third slugger to win the competition in his home ballpark following Todd Frazier for the Reds in 2015, and Ryne Sandberg of the Cubs in 1990.

Harper bested the Braves’ Freddy Freeman in the first round, and the Dodgers’ Max Muncy in the semifinals. Muncy pulled the upset over the Cubs’ Javier Baez in the opening round, before falling short 13-12 to Harper in the semis.

“You can’t really feel your hands. Your forearms are really tight, so you’re not sure if you’re gripping the bat or if it’s falling out of your hands. Your legs are really sore. You just get exhausted,” Muncy said.

Crawford goes 4-for-4 in Giants’ 2-0 shutout over the Nationals

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

What a day it was for Brandon Crawford in the series finale for the San Francisco Giants against one of the best pitchers in baseball, Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals.

Crawford picked up three hits in his three at-bats versus Scherzer, including a two-run home run off of Scherzer in the top of the fourth and the Giants defeated the Nationals 2-0 at Nationals Park on Sunday.

On the afternoon, the hot hitting Crawford ended up going four-for-four, as the Giants took the series two games to one, and more important, took the season series four games to two.

Crawford singled in the top of the first inning, then smashed a two-run home run into the second deck that proved to be the only runs of the game for both teams. Crawford then doubled in the top of the sixth inning, and with a chance for the cycle, Crawford doubled down the left field line to complete his four-hit day.

It was the eighth home run of the season for Crawford, and his 29th and 30 runs batted in on the season.

Crawford, who struggled thru the month of April, as he batted .189 thru the first month of the season, is now hitting .338.

Since May 1, Crawford is hitting .439, as he is 58-for-132 during that stretch. His .338 batting average is just three points behind Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves, who is batting .341.

Derek Holland went the minimum five innings to pick up the victory for the Giants, who are now 2-1 on their three-city, 10 game road trip thru Washington, Miami and Los Angeles.

Holland gave up three hits, walking two and striking out four, as he improved to 4-6 on the season.

Bruce Bochy turned the game over to his bullpen, and they performed in an outstanding manner, as former Nationals closer Mark Melancon pitched the sixth inning, walking one, then Sam Dyson walked and struck out a batter in the seventh inning, then Tony Watson pitched a perfect eighth.

Hunter Strickland came on in the bottom of the ninth, who got Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Matt Adams, who came on to pinch hit for Mark Reynolds to pick up his 13thsave of the season.

Strickland, who in their last meeting hit Harper that led to a bench clearing brawl got Harper to ground out to Crawford for the first out. Rendon then followed it up with a ground ball with a ground ball to Crawford and then Strickland got Adams to strikeout swinging to end the game.

Scherzer went seven innings, allowing two runs, while scattering four hits, walking three and striking out nine, as he saw his record on the season fall to 10-2 and his earned run average increase from 1.95 to 2.00. This was the first loss for Scherzer since April 4, breaking his nine-game winning streak.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner will make his second start of the season on Monday evening, as the Giants continue their road trip against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park, who will send Wei-Yen Chen, who is 1-3 with a 5.86 ERA on the season.

In his season debut on Tuesday night, Bumgarner went six innings, allowing two runs, walking no one and struck out three after missing the first two months of the season with a broken left pinkie.

This was the first series win for the Giants against the Nationals in Washington since July 9-11, 2010, the year that the Giants won the first of their three World Championships in a five-year period.

Crawford is the first Giants batter to ever get three hits in the same game off of Scherzer.

UP NEXT: The Giants will head to Miami to take on the Marlins for a four-game set. Game 1 is set for Monday at 4:10 pm PDT.

Harper hits his 19th home run in Nationals’ 7-5 win over Giants

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Photo credit: sports.yahoo.com

By Jeremy Kahn

On the day that the Washington Capitals brought the newly won Stanley Cup to Nationals Park and Alexander Ovechkin threw out the first pitch, it was the Washington Nationals superstar that provided the big blast against the San Francisoo Giants.

Bryce Harper hit his National League-leading 19th home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, as the Nationals defeated the Giants 7-5 in an early Saturday matinee at Nationals Park.

In his first game since being activated from the 60-day disabled list, Adam Eaton scored two runs to help even the weekend series with the Giants.

Eaton, who missed 52 games with a left ankle bruise, was hit by a pitch, as he led off the bottom of the first inning.

Anthony Rendon drove in Eaton with a single that gave the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead, and then in the next inning, he scored again and the Nationals took a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Dereck Rodriguez lasted just 2.2 innings, as he gave up five runs just six days after his first major league start and win over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park.

Rodriguez, who is the son of Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, pitched in front of his father for the first time as a major leaguer, and will do so again on Thursday, when he pitches in his hometown of Miami against the Marlins.

Nick Hundley got the Giants back in it in the top of the third inning, as he hit a three-run home run off of Gio Gonzalez to get the Giants within 5-3.

The Giants rally continued in the top of the fourth inning, as the Giants loaded the bases and were only able to manage one run, as Andrew McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez, who like Rodriguez saw his pitch count elevate and was unable to get out of the fourth inning.

Justin Miller picked up his third win of the season, as he retired all five batters he faced.

Hundley got the Giants within one run in the top of the seventh inning, as he doubled in a run; however, the Nationals put the game away in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Spence Kieboom hit a RBI double of his own.

NOTES: Derek Holland will take the mound in the series finale on Sunday, while the Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the mound, as he looks to improve to 11-1 on the season.

This will be the first time that Holland will face the Nationals in his 10-year career, while Scherzer looks to go to 2-0 against the Giants this season. On April 25, Scherzer went six innings and struck out 10 in a 15-2 victory for the Nationals, as they salvaged the series finale.

Brandon Crawford was out of the lineup for the first time since May 16 against the Cincinnati Reds. Crawford struck out as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh inning.

Ovechkin’s first pitch to Scherzer went over the pitcher’s head, and the Conn Smythe Award Winner asked for another one and it was granted.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Nats conclude their series on Sunday at 1:05 pm PDT.

Road trip begins on a high note as Giants defeat Nationals 9-5

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

What a nice start to a three-city, 10 game road trip for the San Francisco Giants against a tough Washington Nationals team.

Andrew McCutchen got the offense going in the first inning, as he hit his third home run of the week that matched his season total and the Giants defeated the Nationals 9-5 at Nationals Park on Friday night.

Andrew Suarez did not go the minimum five innings, as he was pulled from the game with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after the Nationals cut the Giants once 6-2 lead down to 6-4.

Suarez went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five, before way to Reyes Moronta.

The Giants extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning, as Alen Hanson continues his hot hitting since coming off the disabled list, as he singled to right field that scored Pablo Sandoval. Hunter Pence then extended the lead, as he doubled in Hanson.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg lasted just two innings before he was forced to leave the game with inflammation in his shoulder, and will undergo an MRI on Saturday. Strasburg gave up three runs on five hits, walking no one and striking out two, as he fell to 6-6 on the season.

Gorkys Hernandez continues his hot hitting, as he hit a two-run two run home run in the top of the fourth inning that gave the Giants a 5-0 lead.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Suarez gave up a two-run home run to Juan Soto that landed in the Giants bullpen just out of the reach of Pence, who attempted to make a home run saving catch.

Brandon Crawford remains hot, as he doubled to left field that scored McCutchen to give the Giants a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Wilmer Difo began the Nationals comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he singled to lead off the inning against Suarez. After Pedro Severino flew out for the first out of the inning, Adrian Sanchez singled and then Trea Turner walked to load the bases for Bryce Harper, who was the tying run.

Harper singled to right field to score both Difo and Sanchez, which marked the end of the night for Suarez.

Reyes Moronta replaced Suarez, and was able to get Anthony Rendon to fly out to Hernandez in centerfield and then Mark Reynolds fouled out to Hanson at third base to end the threat. That was it for Moronta, who picked up his second win of the season.

Matt Adams got the Nationals within one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he singled off of former Nationals reliever Mark Melancon.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the top of the seventh inning, as Sandoval singled in Joe Panik, who doubled to right field to lead off the inning. Following the Panik double, Buster Posey singled and then after McCutchen made the first out of the inning, Crawford was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases.

Sandoval then followed Crawford to the plate, and singled to centerfield to score Panik from third base. Evan Longoria, who did not start, came off the bench to pinch hit for Hanson and hit a sacrifice fly that scored Posey and then Hunter Pence put the finishing touches on the scoring, when singled to right field to score Crawford.

NOTES: Dereck Rodriguez will make his second major league start on Saturday, as he takes on Gio Gonzalez.

Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija both threw in the bullpen prior to the game. Samardzija, who is out with right shoulder tightness will throw one more bullpen session and then throw to hitters or make a rehab start. Cueto is likely to throw two more bullpen sessions and then a batting practice before returning from inflammation in his right elbow.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Nationals meet again Saturday at 9:05 am PDT.

Rude Guests: Nats rob Giants’ momentum with rout, then rush off to the airport

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–From the Giants’ perspective, finally achieving a .500 record after an adversity-filled start to the season would have been a nice storyline.

But it didn’t happen, so maybe focusing on April 25–today’s date–and the still early stage of the long season will temper their momentary disappointments.

Either way, for the 25 guys trudging out the Giants’ clubhouse on Wednesday, perspective will be needed. 15-2 defeats aren’t easy to swallow.

The Nationals pounded out 18 hits, led 10-0 in the sixth, amply supporting starter Max Scherzer, who went six innings, and earned themselves a relaxed flight back to the Nation’s Capital.

“One of those games that started off rough and gradually got worse,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We gave up crooked numbers. That’s not going to work.”

The Giants still covet a 14-14 record after Sunday, their way of standing up to a brutal stretch to start the season that ends Sunday against the Dodgers. But after getting blown out they’ll have to regain their recent form immediately if they want to grab three of four from LA.

Concerning issues cropped up before the first pitch, and multipled in the game’s initial pitches. First, Buster Posey was given a day off to rest, then hard-swinging Mac Williamson was scratched due to a sore neck, a result of his sliding catch attempt on Tuesday that sent him tumbling into the low wall bordering the left field line bullpen. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija looked good in his season debut over the weekend at Anaheim, but lugged an 0-5 record against Washington in his last five starts to the mound Wednesday. That was essentially the opposite of Scherzer, who dominated the Giants in his last two appearances, striking out a combined 21 batters.

Then the game commenced, and the Nats took a quick 3-0 lead as Samardzija gave up three hits surrounding his wild pitch with Bryce Harper at bat.

The traffic on the basepaths never subsided after that. Samardzija escaped trouble in the second and third, then got torched in the fourth, allowing three more runs. Pierce Johnson gave up a pair of runs, then Josh Osich allowed four. Throughout, the last out of an inning became slippier than a piglet in soapy, bath water. In all, four relievers threw over 100 pitches, that after Samardzija threw 86 and couldn’t finish the fourth inning. Johnson allowed as many runs as he gave up in eight, previous outings.

“You’re looking for someone to put up a zero and we had a hard time doing that,” Bochy admitted.

And the AT&T Park crowd of 35,126 squirmed, then left, figuring they could realize greater entertainment value sitting in afternoon commute traffic. The game somehow ended after three hours, 13 minutes, partly attributable to Scherzer who struck out 10, and closed doors immediately after they opened.

“You just want to go out there and put up zeros to get the offense back in and have everybody run to the bat rack. That’s what makes it fun,” said Scherzer.

Andrew McCutchen (hitting .205), Brandon Crawford (.200) and Austin Jackson (.213) combined to strike out five times against the Nationals ace. Evan Longoria (.222) was spelled at third base by Pablo Sandoval. In a seventh inning, pinch-hitting role, Longoria faced reliever Trevor Gott and struck out swinging.

All four will likely be back in the starting lineup Friday to face Los Angeles’ Hyun-Jin Ryu. But Ryu’s undefeated with an ERA under two. The Giants won’t face Clayton Kershaw this weekend, and the Dodgers haven’t announced a starter for Saturday’s first game, but trouble could arise regardless for the Giants if the dead spots in their lineup don’t respond.

Derek Holland opposes Ryu. He’s yet to defeat the Dodgers, but with just two, previous starts, it’s a limited sample.

Giants Notes: Twists and Turns Keep on Coming

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals by close scores of 4-2 and 4-3, in that order. However, San Francisco was unable to complete a three-game sweep over Washington at AT&T Park Wednesday afternoon as they fell behind early and never came close to their opponent.

April 25, 2018
Final: 15-2 Nationals
Attendance: 35,126
Time: 3 hours, 13 minutes

Here are some Giants news and notes:
– Giants manager Bruce Bochy tweeted just minutes after the Giants’ 4-3 win over the Nats Tuesday night. Bochy and his team are 1-0 when he’s on Twitter.
– The Giants congratulated the Golden State Warriors on eliminating the San Antonio Spurs to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. They also announced their Bay Area Unite night at AT&T Park during their home game versus the San Diego Padres on April 30 at 7:15 pm PT. You can purchase your tickets here: atmlb.com/2qYFhQA
– The Giants congratulated the nearby San Francisco Dons on their recent win.
– The Giants brought fans a double dose of No. 25 Wednesday by giving out a collectible figurine of father-son duo Barry and Bobby Bonds.
– Longtime Giants fan Marci Salvador turned 100 last week, but celebrated her birthday at AT&T Park Wednesday.
– Dylan, who’s dealing with pediatric cancer, got to meet some of his favorite Giants players on the field prior to Wednesday’s game. Sam Dyson let Dylan use his glove and played catch with the little boy.
– Mac Williamson was scratched Wednesday due to neck stiffness.
– Chris Stratton was placed on paternity leave.
– Roberto Gomez was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
– Jeff Samardzija made his AT&T Park debut Wednesday.

Up Next: The Giants host the rival Dodgers this weekend. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, April 27 at 7:15 pm PT on KNTV and SNLA. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Saturday, April 28 at 1:05 pm PT on KNTV and SNLA and NSBA and SNLA, respectively. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 29 at 2:05 pm PT on NSBA and SNLA.

Williamson and Belt each go deep in Giants’ 4-3 win over Nationals

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–It maybe early in the year, but the San Francisco Giants are beginning to show why they have three World Series in the past eight years.

Mac Williamson hit a towering home run to straightaway centerfield in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Giants made it three straight victories with a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals in front of a crowd of 37,147 at AT&T Park Tuesday night.

The Williamson home run measured at 423 feet went deep over the centerfield wall to give the Giants the second series win in a row.

There was a scary moment for Williamson in the top of the fifth inning, as he attempted to catch a Bryce Harper foul, Williamson went crashing into the padded wall near the bullpen area.

“Feeling fine, spiked my calf,” said Williamson.

Brandon Belt continued his hot hitting, as he extended his hitting streak to seven games, as he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. It was the fifth home run for Belt in the last six games.

Joe Panik went three-for-four at the plate, as the Giants have won four out of their last five games.

Reyes Moronta pitched two innings, as he allowed just one hit and struck out two and won his first major league game.

“Reyes is doing a great job,” said Ty Blach.

Blach went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out three, as he did not fare in the decision.

Blach was looking good until he got into trouble in the top of the fourth inning, as he walked Ryan Zimmerman, gave up a single to Moises Sierra and then Michael Taylor tied up the game with one swing of the bat. Taylor took a Blach pitch to the right-field arcade for a three-run home run that tied up the game.

It was a tough few days for Blach, as he suffered food poisoning in Anaheim, and was on IV yesterday, according to Bruce Bochy.

“Down eight or nine pounds,” said Blach.

Tanner Roark pitched six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walked two, struck out four. Roark also threw two wild pitches, and gave up two home runs, as hid record fell to 1-2 on the season.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija heads to the mound on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants look for the sweep. The Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the hill, as they look to salvage the series finale.

In his last five starts against the Nationals, Samardzija is 0-5 with a 6.43 earned run average in 28 innings pitched.

On the other hand, in his last two starts versus the Giants, Scherzer has 21 strikeouts and just one walk.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Nationals conclude their three-game series Wednesday afternoon at 12:45 pm PT.

Giants have that youthful glow as Stratton, Williamson lead them past the Nationals

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Will this be the 14th consecutive season without a 30-home run hitter for the Giants?

It’s been awhile, but for the first time in awhile, the Giants at least have some candidates, most prominently Brandon Belt, who has never hit more than 18 homers in his seven season career.  He’s hit five thus far, and looks healthy, since health has been the biggest reason he didn’t achieve the feat previously.

Evan Longoria has hit 30 home runs in a season four times, all for Tampa Bay, most recently in 2016 when he hit a career-best 36. Andrew McCutchen hit 31 in 2012 for the Pirates. Hunter Pence hit 27 in 2013, Buster Posey hit 24 in 2012. None of that quartet seems likely for a breakout, at least not one that would take them past 30.

So how about Mac Williamson? Now that’s an interesting possibility.

In Monday’s homecoming, 4-2 win over the Nationals, Williamson’s sixth inning home run increased the Giants’ one-run lead to three. Not only hit at a pivotal juncture, it was smoked, leaving the park at 112 mph and traveling 465 feet, over and past Triples Alley. After the game, it was all anyone wanted to discuss.

“I just haven’t seen many balls hit there, even in BP, and with the wind blowing,” manager Bruce Bochy said.  “That’s impressive. It shows you how strong this guy is. Big home run too, big moment there. It’s an area where few guys can hit a ball.  And I think all his teammates were pretty impressed too.”

“I hit it well. But you never know here at AT&T,” said Williamson.

Talk about pronouncing yourself ready to take on a definitive role at the major league level, here’s Williamson’s path. First promoted in 2015, Williamson and Jarrett Parker both get opportunities given their power game and capable defense to assume roles in San Francisco. But over the last three seasons, neither emerged with injuries derailing both. Parker’s no longer in the San Francisco organization, but Williamson is, after regaining his health and refining his swing in the anonymity of minor league ball.

Fast forward to spring of 2018, and Williamson turns head in spring with some prodigious feats, but he’s still demoted to Sacramento prior to Opening Day.  Left fielder Hunter Pence starts slow, and then is injured, clearing a path for Williamson, who hits .487 with six home runs in just 11 games with the AAA River Cats.

Then on Friday night in Anaheim, in his season debut, Williamson homers off Angels’ reliever Andrew Heaney, an opposite field blast that travels 434 feet and at 114 mph is the hardest hit ball to date for the Giants.

Quite simply, it’s a story that says Williamson has arrived.

Chris Stratton has been with the Giants all season and pitched well in all but his first outing.  That string continued Monday as the 27-year old allowed just four hits, two runs, and bailed out the whole team in the sixth when two Giants’ errors could have been the precursor to the Nats getting back into the game. With runners on second and third, one out, Stratton struck out Matt Adams, and got Matt Wieters to fly out to end the inning.

In that stretch, Stratton relied heavily on his improved changeup, and didn’t get caught trying rush the ball to plate in a stressful situation. Last season, Stratton beat the Nats in D.C., striking out a career-best 10, and on Monday, he doubled down on that performance, beating the Nats this time with Bryce Harper in the lineup.

“Sometimes it’s his breaking ball, but he’s got confidence in that changeup,” Bochy said of Stratton’s repertoire. “And that’s a big pitch for him. And he used it instead of trying to power his way through them. That’s why he’s a starter, and that’s why he’s on this club.  He’s got four pitches with command.”

The Giants have won three of four, and improved to 10-12 on the season. That gauntlet of an opening stretch–the first 28 ballgames of the team’s season considered the most difficult of any major league club based on last year’s won-loss records–now appears surviveable with six games remaining, concluding this Sunday against the Dodgers.

On Tuesday, they face under-the-radar Giants’ killer, Tanner Roark, who has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts against San Francisco.  Ty Blach takes the ball for the Giants at 7:15pm.