Pence returns just in time as the Giants (59-44) are 2-11 since the All-Star break and have seen their lead in the National League West shrink to just one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Santiago Casilla nailed down his 23rd save of the season, and his second of the second half. They loaded the bases against Yusmeiro Petit, pitching his third consecutive inning in relief because the Nationals were shorthanded in their bullpen.
San Francisco took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring their fourth run on a sacrifice fly by Joe Panik.
Reynaldo Lopez made his second big league start and wasn’t bad, though he continues to have serious command issues.
The hope is that Pence, who missed 48 games, will jolt the Giants’ exhausted offense. He also added a single and a stolen base. San Francisco managed to pull out a 5-3 win over Washington on Saturday after totaling four runs in the previous three games – all losses.
Over his last six starts Scherzer has allowed just five earned runs in 41 1/3 innings.
In 50 games this season, Pence is hitting.298/.375/.486 with 11 doubles, seven home runs and 36 RBI.
The Washington Nationals defeated the San Francisco Giants 4-1 at AT&T Park on Friday night, and their win came with the help of a very special triple play.
Nationals: RHP Reynaldo Lopez (0-1) will be called up from Syracuse to face San Francisco on Saturday. “Still being precautionary”, Baker said, noting the training staff advised him against using Murphy.
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Next Up: The Nationals and Giants wrap up their three-game set tomorrow afternoon in San Francisco. “He’s better as far as I know and they found what it is, so that’s great”, Baker said. The Nationals are hoping new closer Mark Melancon arrives in time for the series finale after having been acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly before the start of Saturday’s game. So is center fielder Denard Span, who locked legs at first base on his infield single in the eighth inning. 3B Matt Duffy (left Achilles strain) was starting a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento then set to go to Double-A Richmond while the Giants are on the East Coast so he will be nearby. The Giants activated Pence, who missed a little less than two months due to hamstring surgery, from the disabled list and designated infielder Ramiro Pena for assignment. Cain has a 5-5 record and 3.64 ERA in 15 career starts against the Nationals. He would become the sixth pitcher in San Francisco history to win 100 in a Giants uniform, joining Hall of Famers Juan Marichal (238) and Gaylord Perry (134), Tim Lincecum (108), Kirk Rueter (105) and Mike McCormick (104).
