SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants sunk their second-half record a little deeper on Thursday night. They’ve lost 10 of 12 games since the All-Star break, this one a 4-2 defeat to the Nationals. There was a trade though, and there’s more on the below.
In five innings Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.63 ERA) gave up three runs, which was three too many for an offense that’s scored that many runs in its last two games. The Dodgers were idle, so the Giants NL West lead drops to two games. Here’s how Thursday night happened at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.
The big moment
It came in the first inning before any runs had been scored. The Giants announced a trade for Twins infielder Eduardo Nunez, giving up left-handed pitcher Adalberto Mejia in exchange. General manager Bobby Evans spoke to reporters about the move during the game, citing it as a depth acquisition more than anything else. Nunez can cover at third while Matt Duffy is rehabbing his strained left Achilles, and he allows Bruce Bochy to give Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford extra off-days too.
At the plate
Through eight innings, the entire offense essentially revolved around Conor Gillaspie. That was not a good thing. The No. 8 hitter knocked in the Giants’ only run with a bases-loaded, third-inning groundout that Ryan Zimmerman chose not to throw home on. Gillaspie also collected two hits along the way, accounting for half the Giants’ total output in that time.
Then the ninth inning came, and the Giants knocked Jonathan Papelbon out of the game with a pair of base runners. Oliver Perez came on and faced Trevor Brown with a three-run lead, and walked him to load the bases. Gregor Blanco then grounded one sharply to Anthony Rendon, and he made a poor throw to second base with Brown bearing down on the play. Everybody was safe, and Brandon Belt scored to draw the Giants within two. Denard Span and Angel Pagan struck out to end the game, rounding out the team’s 0-for-9 effort with runners in scoring position.
As has happened over and over again, setting up an inning is not the Giants’ problem, feasting is. Mac Williamson struck out in the second inning with the bases loaded and nobody out. Belt swung through a two-strike pitch with Brandon Crawford on third and one out. The Giants’ thirst for runs couldn’t have been more apparent when Crawford then got too antsy on a pitch in the dirt, ending the inning in a rundown between third and home.
Nats starter Tanner Roark turned in his eighth start of seven-plus innings allowing one run or less. Only Jon Lester has done it more times this season.
On the mound
If there’s one knock on Johnny Cueto’s short time with the Giants, it’s his inconsistency early in the game. He’s got a 3.86 ERA in the game’s first three innings, and a 1.71 combined ERA afterward. Cueto came undone in a second inning he couldn’t put an end to. Five consecutive hitters reached base with two outs to push across all three runs on his line.
Along with the score, the inning inflated his pitch total. He ended the fourth inning with 88 pitches, another inning he labored through with two outs. Cueto’s night finished with a 13-pitch fifth inning that he allowed his eighth and final hit in. As he’s found a way to do when he’s not on top of his game, Cueto limited the damage. Unfortunately, enough was already done with the way the Giants’ offense is sputtering.
In the ‘pen
Albert Suarez delivered two innings in relief of Cueto. He pitched the sixth and the seventh, getting burned with two outs much like his predecessor. Trea Turner blooped a broken-bat single in the sixth inning, and Bryce Harper lined a double into the left field corner to stretch Washington’s lead to three.
George Kontos followed with two hitless innings of his own, although he had to work around three walks.
On deck
As the Giants try to tighten up, Jeff Samardzija (9-6, 4.22 ERA) could do his part with run prevention. He enters his Friday start having allowed at least four runs in five of his last six outings (7.29 ERA in that stretch). He’s opposed by Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.92 ERA), who’s winless in his career at AT&T Park. In two regular season starts, he’s allowed eight runs in seven innings. First pitch at 7:15 p.m. on KNBR 680.
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