Washington's starter Tim Redding walks Ray Durham with Rajai Davis already at first and Ryan Klesko due up with one out in the top of the first inning of tonight's first of three with the visiting San Francisco Giants. Nationals catcher Brian Schneider fires to third trying to get the lead runner in a double steal, but the throw hits Davis as he slides into the bag, and ricochets into foul territory leaving both runners safe. Klesko grounds out weakly to the pitcher for the second out of the first. Giants catcher Bengie Molina grounds out to third to let Redding off the hook with a scoreless first frame.
Nook Logan's leading off for the Nationals against San Francisco starter Kevin Correia, and Logan promptly slices a single into short right to start the bottom of the first. Felipe Lopez hits a hard chopper, and the slow high bounce allows both runners to reach base safely. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to center, Logan takes third. Dmitri Young drops a liner in left, Logan scores from third. 1-0 Nationals.
Pedro Feliz starts the San Fran second with a long fly to the right field corner that is initially a triple, but called back for a ground rule double because it hits the stands above the outfield wall. Redding walks Omar Vizquel to bring up Dan Ortmeier, who singles through the right side of the infield to score Feliz from second and tie the game at 1-1 in the second. Rajai Davis hits a broken bat two-out single through Zimmerman at third to score two runs and make it a 3-1 Giants lead.
Brian Schneider lines a high fastball to right and hustles out a double with one out in the Nationals second. Correia strands Schneider there by retiring Redding and Logan to end the bottom of the frame.
Tim Redding lets two on with one out in the top of the third. Redding pops Omar Vizquel up for the second out, then walks Ortmeier to load the bases, but gets a ground out from the pitcher to end the Giants third. Still 3-1 San Fran.
Redding walks Ray Durham and surrenders a single to Klesko with two outs in the fourth. Bengie Molina swings through a high fastball for strike three to end the threat. Austin Kearns draws the Nationals closer taking a slider from Correia into the bullpen in left. Kearns 12th makes in 3-2 San Fran after four.
Both starters manage scoreless fifth frames. Nationals lefty Mike Bacsik replaces Redding and faces the team that made him famous. Bacsik retires the Giants in order. Zimmerman, DY and Kearns due up for the Nationals. Zimmerman grounds out to short. DY flies out to left. Austin Kearns earns a two-out walk from Correia. Wily Mo Pena reaches the warning track in left but that's as far as it goes. 3-2 after six.
Mike Bacsik gives up a two-out single up the middle to Bengie Molina, and Chris Schroder will come on to close out the top of the seventh. Schroder gets Pedro Feliz swinging. Stand up and stretch...
Ronnie Belliard doubles off Giants righty Tyler Walker to start the Nationals seventh. Ryan Church pinch hits for the pitcher after Schneider makes the first out. Church flies out to short center. Tyler Walker gets Nook Logan chasing a slider off the plate, and the Giants hold the lead through seven innings of play.
Jesus "Everyday" Colome gives up an infield single to Rich Aurilia but is otherwise untouched in a scoreless top of the eigth inning. Giants reliever Brian "Not That Brian" Wilson issues a two out walk to DY, who is replaced on the basepaths by the speedy(?) Robert Fick. Austin Kearns gets jammed and grounds out to end the eigth.
The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch, on to face the top of the Giants order in the ninth. Rajai Davis lines out to Pena in left. Ray Durham lines out to center. Ryan Klesko grounds out to second. Rauch retires the side. Giants closer Brad Hennessy will face Pena, Belliard and Schneider. Pena pops out on the first pitch. Belliard pops out to second. The Professional Pinch Hitter Tony Batista pops out to Klesko at first. Giants win. 3-2 final.
Nationals now 58-77.