They’re also 1-5 in his last six starts following a team loss in their previous game but have won 14 of Gonzalez’s last 20 starts versus National League West opponents.
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Two days after watching a triple play work against his team, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy pulled out the old triple-pitcher play Sunday. Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks in six innings for his fourth quality start in five outings.
As the likely victor of the NL West, the Giants were on the same level with the Cubs and the Nationals, but the recent moves by those two teams to acquire Aroldis Chapman and Melancon might put them on the next level.
“Gio should have fared better than that”. He ranks second in the NL in ERA, but the Giants have lost his last three starts and are 2-6 in his last eight.
The Nationals gave him no support early on.
Cain had one of the strangest starts of his career, a 93-pitch roller coaster that ultimately yielded no hits or runs.
George Kontos took the mound in the top of the sixth with a 2-0 lead. He scored two batters later on a double by Rendon, getting the Nationals back within 2-1.
Two innings later, Gonzalez appeared to pitch his way out of a jam when he got Hunter Pence to ground to third with two outs and a man on second. Just a couple bumps on the road. “These guys are the best infield in the league”.
But the Giants’ bullpen held Cain’s lead, with Santiago Casilla saving the win in the ninth by striking out N.L. batting average leader Daniel Murphy swinging at three straight fastballs to end the game.
The Nationals finally got their first hit in the sixth inning, and they scored their first run that inning as well.
Despite the win, the Giants finished July with a losing record, 11-13, their worst month of the season. Juan Marichal (238), Gaylord Perry (134), Tim Lincecum (108), Kirk Rueter (105) and Mike McCormick (104) are the others.
“That’s a special deal”, Bumgarner said of Cain. “It definitely feels good, especially the way it worked out today”. He battled his command, walking four hitters and hitting another, but also struck out five to win his second consecutive decision – the first time Cain has done that since May 2013.
Rendon got deked into staying at second on a line drive to left by Ryan Zimmerman, however, when Giants’ left fielder Mac Williamson lifted his glove like he was going to make a catch before it dropped in for a hit.
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Speaking on the incident himself after the game, Williamson said it “felt like (the shoulder) was grinding in there or something” after he pushed off the ground to complete the play at third base. Bochy challenged the call, but it was upheld. “I guess you could say he was effectively wild a little bit today”.
