Matt Cain was on fire for the Giants, which was bad news for the Nationals, as his eleven strikeouts and RBI double helped the Giants push pass the Nationals 3-1 and win the three games series two games to one.
Yunesky Maya had a solid game going six innings, giving up four hits and only one run, but Matt Cain was that lone run when in the bottom of the sixth Matt Cain he broke scoreless tie knocking in Eli Whiteside with an RBI double. The Nationals though came back in the top of the seventh when Rick Ankiel hit in Michael Morse on an RBI single to tie the game at one.
Last night the Nationals bullpen was solid, today not so much. Sean Burnett came on in the seventh, in a tied game, and on three hits, gave up two runs including a Brandon Crawford RBI triple and Eli Whiteside RBI single. Burnett is now 1-3 on the season and Maya got the no decision. The Giants Matt Cain ended up going nine innings, striking out eleven, giving up five hits and only one walk for his fifth win of the season.
The Nats might of lost the three game series, but for the first time since 2007 they take the season series against the Giants champs four games to three. Danny Espinosa ended the game when he swung at a pitch that hit his hand and the umpire ruled it a strikeout. That is the second time on the road trip Espinosa has struck out in that fashion and he was in some pain when the game ended.
Jayson Werth missed his second game in a row with a sore right ankle and Jerry Hairston, who was appealing a suspension for bumping umpire Ed Hickcox, decided to drop the appeal and serve his one game suspension since he wasn’t going to play today anyways with back spasms that started bothering him yesterday.
The Nationals (27-35) now head to San Diego for their last four games of the eleven game road trip. First pitch is set for Thursday at 10:05 PM on 106.7 The FAN against the Padres. The Nationals went 1-2 against the Padres earlier this season in three games at Nationals Park which were all one run games. Aaron Harang (6-2, 3.77 ERA) is the probable pitcher for the Padres against the Nationals Livan Hernandez (3-7, 3.76 ERA) who is looking for his first win since April 28th against the Mets.
