Nationals 6, Giants 2
Jordan Zimmermann gave up two runs over eight innings and Jayson Werth drove in two runs as Washington knocked off visiting San Francisco.
Asdrubal Cabrera homered and scored twice, and Denard Span and Anthony Rendon also scored two runs as the Nationals won for the 11th time in 12 games. Washington stands 6 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and the Giants fell 4 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West while their lead over Miami for the final wild card spot remained at four.
Zimmermann (9-5) struck out eight and allowed seven hits without issuing a walk. San Francisco starter Tim Lincecum (10-9) gave up six runs (four earned) and six hits in 2 2/3 innings to drop to 1-6 in 10 career starts against the Nationals.
After a rain delay of 1 hour, 12 minutes, Hunter Pence hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Giants and Washington tied it in the bottom of the frame on Werth’s single and Adam LaRoche’s double-play ball. Span and Werth each had a run-scoring single in a three-run second as the Nationals took a 5-2 advantage.
Cabrera homered with two outs in the third and Zimmermann followed with a double to end Lincecum’s outing. The first two Giants reached in the ninth before Matt Thornton retired Joe Panik on a double-play grounder and induced Andrew Susac to fly to center.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The outing was the second-shortest start of Lincecum’s career behind a 2012 start against Colorado in which he lasted just 2 1/3 innings. … Werth is 4-for-8 with three RBIs in the series. … Giants RHP Yusmeiro Petit retired all 13 batters he faced and struck out five.