CJ Abrams hit a home run and brought in three runs for the Nationals in their 5-3 win against the Giants on Tuesday night, after sitting out three games due to a bruised left pinkie.
“It always feels good to be out there on the field playing baseball,” Abrams said. “Getting out there with the boys, having fun, getting the win like tonight.”
Riley Adams contributed with an RBI double, and Jacob Young had two hits and three stolen bases as Washington continued their winning streak against San Francisco to six games. Patrick Bailey and Nick Ahmed scored runs for the Giants, who have lost seven of their last nine games.
Joan Adon made his season debut for Washington, allowing one run in four innings. He replaced Josiah Gray, who was placed on the injured list due to a flexor strain in his right arm.
“He was good,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He hasn’t pitched much because the weather in Rochester has been bad everywhere they’re going. … He did a great job though. Kept us in the ballgame.”
Jordan Weems (1-0) earned the win despite giving up two runs, one earned, in one inning. Kyle Finnegan secured his fourth save by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Giants’ starter Kyle Harrison struck out eight batters and allowed three runs in six innings. Ryan Walker (1-1) took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Abrams hit a two-run homer to right, his third of the season. He later added an RBI single in the fifth inning to extend Washington’s lead to 3-1.
San Francisco tied the game in the sixth inning when Ahmed hit an RBI single to right, and another run scored on Lane Thomas’ throwing error.
Trey Lipscomb put the Nationals ahead again with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, and Adams added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI double.
Although the Giants loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Finnegan managed to retire Michael Conforto and induce a game-ending double play from Matt Chapman.
“Not ideal, bases loaded (and) nobody out, but we won the game and that’s why we’re here,” Finnegan said. “I’m proud of myself for not giving in there. Knowing there’s always a way out, so that kind of was my thought.”
San Francisco left 11 runners on base and struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1 for 6 in those situations after going 0 for 10 in Monday night’s loss.
“That’s been a theme for us, unfortunately,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “(If) we keep getting them on, we’ll score them, but it’s getting a little frustrating.” The Giants have now gone five games without hitting a home run, their longest stretch since September 2018.
Young became the third Nationals player in the last three days to steal three bases in a single game, following Thomas’ feat on Sunday against Philadelphia, and Lipscomb’s performance in Monday night’s game against San Francisco
The last team to have a player steal at least three bases in three straight team games was Oakland in 1983, with Rickey Henderson responsible for each one.
