It was an all-too-familiar sight. Jeff Samardzija (9-8, 4.40 ERA) labored through seven innings and the Giants could hardly muster any offense. It’s the same losing recipe that’s led them to a treacherous, 5-14, path since the All-Star Game was played in San Diego. Even the Giants who played struggled in that game. Here’s more on Friday’s loss in Washington.
The big moment
The turning point in the game came minutes into it. Three of the first four hitters Samardzija faced recorded hits, immediately putting the Giants in a 2-0 hole after Wilson Ramos’ sac fly. For a team withering on the road (2-10 since the All-Star break), the quick deficit felt decisive.
At the plate
One of the major’s least productive offenses since the All-Star break didn’t fare much better on Friday evening. Left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed only two hits through six innings, and the Giants didn’t put two runners on base until the eighth inning. That’s when Denard Span grounded out up the middle, with second baseman David Murphy making a nice, off-balance play. The Giants have scored 65 runs in 19 games (3.42 per game) since the All-Star break, the second-worst figure in baseball.
Angel Pagan provided the only jolt, sending a 2-2 fastball over the left field wall to cut the Nationals’ lead to 3-1. He was the only Giant to touch anything past second base.
On the mound
The Giants weren’t bit by the June Swoon this year. They went 17-10 in the month that has previously plagued them. Instead it was solely Samardzija who flipped his season upside down since the calendar page turned from May. The hard-throwing right-hander had been one of the best pitchers in the National League through 11 starts, but the next 11 have been far more unspectacular. Friday evening in Washington was the latest chapter.
Samardzija allowed five runs over seven innings, inflating his ERA to 7.36 since June 4. The Nationals scored in four of Samardzija’s first six innings, and the scoring chances were often isolated outside a three-hit first inning. Wilson Ramos and Trea Turner each hit a home run to plate a pair of runs. If nothing else, home runs have been the common thread in Samardzija’s struggles.
He’s now allowed multiple home runs in three of his last four starts, and 16 total in the last 11 outings. Before making a June 4 start in St. Louis when he allowed four home runs, he had allowed only five big flies in his first 11 starts.
The Giants are 11-11 in Samardzija’s starts this year. They’re winless (0-4) since the All-Star break.
In the ‘pen
George Kontos pitched the only inning Samardzija didn’t. He breezed through the eighth inning on nine pitches.
On deck
After one start, Matt Cain still hasn’t allowed a run against the Nationals. The right-hander threw five hitless frames at AT&T Park last Sunday to record his 100th career win. Because the Giants play the Nationals seven times in 10 days, Cain’s one of several Giants starters getting another crack against Washington. Except he’s the only one who has to oppose Stephen Strasburg (15-1, 2.69 ERA), who’s allowed one run in his last 13 innings. First pitch at 4:05 p.m. on KNBR 680.