Giants offense comes alive in win over Nationals
Giants center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald hits a single in the second inning Wednesday at Oracle Park. Fitzgerald stole second base moments after for the team’s first stolen base of the season. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2024.04.10 – Nick Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald had three hits apiece as the San Francisco Giants avoided a three-game series sweep with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
San Francisco starter Jordan Hicks only allowed one run in six innings, Hicks (2-0) has allowed one earned run or less in each of his first three starts this season after signing a $44 million, four-year contract this off-season. The 27-year-old right-hander finished with four hits and two strikeouts.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot,” Hicks said. “Not trying to do too much. … Sinker was right where I want it to be.”
Giants manager Bob Melvin added: “Really, really good starts. Every one of them.”
Ahmed drove in two runs and scored three times, while Fitzgerald stole two bases and scored twice.
“He’s got the best speed on our team and he needs to play too,” Melvin said of Fitzgerald. “It’s good that he got a really good game under his belt.”
2024.04.10 (Nationals vs. Giants) See Full Highlights
Giants center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald steals third base ahead of the tag by Washington Nationals third baseman Trey Lipscomb in the second inning Wednesday at Oracle Park. Fitzgerald had stolen second base moments earlier for the team’s first stolen base of the season. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2024.04.10 (Nationals vs. Giants) See Full Highlights
2024.04.10 (Nationals vs. Giants) See Full Highlights
“It’s a huge relief,” Fitzgerald said. “We know we’re better than what we’ve been playing. It’s super early, but you definitely want to win these games.”
The Giants also stole their first three bases of the season while snapping a six-game skid against Washington.
The Nationals stole two bases in the loss, giving them a MLB-best 25 this season.
Patrick Corbin (0-2) gave up 11 hits and seven runs with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
“His line won’t look good, but I thought he pitched better than what his line says,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “So we’ll get him back out there and get him going. When he threw the ball down, it was effective. When he throws the ball up, he gets hit pretty hard.”
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
Giants starting pitcher Jordan Hicks threw just 79 pitches in six solid innings Wednesday against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (NBC Sports Post Recap)
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
“Go away,” signaled Hicks. “Go away,” he gestured again. One more time. “Go away.”
The San Francisco Giants’ best starting pitcher didn’t want to be bothered. Trainer Dave Groeschner hurried out to the mound and was followed by manager Bob Melvin and pitching coach Bryan Price.
With the pitcher’s injury history and recent transition into a starter, the team’s brass was taking no chances with Hicks, who has had a marvelous start in his first season with the Giants.
“I just don’t want my mom at home worried or anything when they come out,” Hicks said. “I told them I was good. I was really trying to get them off the mound so I could lock back in. Nothing serious at all.”
Eventually, everyone went away so Hicks could continue his afternoon. However, he proceeded to walk Winker and the next batter, Joey Gallo, this one on a pitch-clock violation. Winker had stolen second, and Hicks was too slow preparing for his next pitch, ball four. He wasn’t bothered one bit after the game about the violation; after all, Gallo had homered in his previous at-bat, and his presence at first set up a force play.
Hicks escaped the jam. After the consecutive walks, Eddie Rosario did the Giants a favor by popping up the first pitch he saw, and Hicks got Trey Lipscomb to bite on a sinker and hit into an inning-ending double play.
After Hicks induced another double play in the fifth, he threw his next pitch to Jacob Young that wasn’t anywhere near the strike zone. In fact, his heater sailed behind Young and straight to the backstop, and folks in the dugout undoubtedly wondered if the right-hander was OK.
Seemingly so. He went on to strike out Young and return for another inning, quickly retiring all three batters in the sixth. The Giants scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to build a six-run lead, and Melvin figured it was a good time to pull his starter.
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (Locked On post game)
Giants center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald gets tag at home by Washington Nationals catcher in the second inning Wednesday at Oracle Park. Fitzgerald had stolen second base moments earlier for the team’s first stolen base of the season. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (Locked On post game)
2024.04.10 – Nationals vs. Giants (Locked On post game)
San Francisco banged out 12 hits and went 6 for 8 with runners in scoring position after going 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series.
Despite the offensive outburst, San Francisco failed to homer for the sixth straight game. It’s the Giants’ longest drought since Sept. 10-16, 2018.
Giants relievers Ryan Walker, Landen Roupp and Erik Miller pitched the final three innings, holding Washington hitless.
The Nationals finished with four hits in the game.
“Hicks is amazing,” Fitzgerald said. “Probably our best three games of the year is when he pitched. All our pitchers compete their butts off, but when he’s pitching, you know something special is going to happen, and you know you need only a few runs to win the game.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz missed the game due to illness.
ROSTER MOVES
The Nationals recalled catcher Drew Millas from the Rochester Red Wings and optioned RHP Joan Adon to the Triple-A affiliate. Millas went 1 for 3 with a stolen base. He was optioned back to Rochester following the game.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Jake Irvin (0-1, 5.73 ERA) is scheduled to start a three-game series at Oakland on Friday night opposite Athletics RHP Paul Blackburn (1-0, 0.00 ERA).
Giants: RHP Keaton Winn (0-2, 5.73 ERA) opens a three-game series at Tampa Bay on Friday night. The Rays have not named a starter.
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Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB
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