Washington Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo, left, turns a double play over San Francisco Giants’ Angel Pagan (16) after a ground ball was hit by Giants’ Joe Panik during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 2.
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Taking advantage of a left-righty matchup, Bochy chose pitcher Madison Bumgarner as the pinch hitter. Welcomed by another standing ovation when he stepped into the batter’s box leading off the second, Pence ripped a double off the left-field wall, and the sellout crowd jumped up to cheer once more.
Once Bumgarner settled safely on second base, Bochy pinch ran for him – a tad weird.
Hunter Pence hit a two-out grounder to third baseman Anthony Rendon.
“We have to get better here, really in all facets of the game”, said manager Bruce Bochy Friday.
The Giants went 26-22 during Pence’s absence but have struggled lately, losing 11 of 13 games since the All-Star break.
The Nationals finally got their first hit in the sixth inning, and they scored their first run that inning as well. Previous Giants pitchers to win 100 games in the San Francisco era of the franchise were RHP Juan Marichal (238), RHP Gaylord Perry (134), RHP Tim Lincecum (108), LHP Kirk Rueter (105) and LHP Mike McCormick (104).
It took so much more than Matt Cain expected to win his 100th game in the big leagues.
The combined no-hitter was immediately broken up upon Cain’s departure; George Kontos gave up a leadoff single to Bryce Harper, who eventually scored the Nats only run on Rendon’s double.
Now that the Giants are getting healthier, are they a good bet to upset the Nationals today at 4:05PM ET?
The Giants’ execution failures continue to be manifold, and majority are happening at the plate with runners in scoring position. Melancon, who owns 30 saves and a 1.55 ERA, was available without the Nationals having to give up top prospects Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez or Trea Turner, and joins a team with a healthy lead in the NL East that is preparing for a possible playoff showdown against the Giants.
Pence was in Saturday’s lineup against the visiting Washington Nationals batting fifth and in right field.
Jayson Werth had two hits for the Nationals to extend his on-base streak to 32 games, tied with Boston’s Dustin Pedroia for the longest active streak in the majors, and Ben Revere hit a tiebreaking single in the fifth.
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez (6-9) allowed two runs (one earned), six hits and two walks in six innings for his fourth quality start in five outings.
Center fielder Denard Span also was out of the lineup because of a tender quadriceps from a collision at home plate Friday.
Buster Posey had two hits for the Giants, who had 10 hits in the game but stranded 11 baserunners. “Don’t try to force things to happen.’ That was very good, to slow me down in the future”.
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With relievers Matt Reynolds, Hunter Strickland and Law combining to keep the Nationals at bay, the Giants put up the two difference-making runs in the last of the seventh against Washington reliever Yusmeiro Petit. The Giants have Monday off, then begin a nine-game trip in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
