Slumping Nats drop third straight

After suffering back-to-back shutouts in Los Angeles, the Nationals managed to muster only one run as their losing streak reached three with the Giants' 3-1 win. With the Mets completing a sweep of the Rockies earlier Thursday, Washington slid 4 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East.

The night began with heavy promise when Yunel Escobar sent Ryan Vogelsong's first pitch of the game over the left-center field wall. The solo shot was Escobar's third leadoff homer of the year and the Nationals' seventh.

Vogelsong, struggling with his command early, proceeded to walk the bases loaded with two outs. But on a 1-0 pitch, Wilson Ramos grounded out to second baseman Kelby Tomlinson to end the threat and let Vogelsong off the hook.

"We had a big opportunity there," Nationals manager Matt Williams told reporters. "Bases loaded. That could change the game for us."

The Nats had another quality scoring opportunity in third when Ian Desmond drew a one-out walk and then advanced to third on a base knock from Ramos. However, Michael A. Taylor popped out to Tomlinson and Stephen Strasburg struck out to end inning, stranding two.

Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth were expected to provide a boost to the Nationals upon their returns from the disabled list more than two weeks ago. The trio combined to go 0-for-11 with one walk and seven strikeouts Thursday night.

Vogelsong, who hadn't struck out more than six in a game all season, fanned a season-high eight over just five innings. Overall, the Nationals whiffed 14 times.

The Giants responded in the bottom of the first when Gregor Blanco tripled off Strasburg to start the frame. Bryce Harper seemed to take a bad route to the ball, and when it bounced, it skipped all the way to the wall in right.

Matt Duffy quickly delivered a single into right field, plating Blanco to even the score. After Strasburg walked Brandon Belt, Buster Posey smoked a grounder to left, scoring Duffy and giving the Giants the lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Strasburg eventually gained his command, limiting San Francisco to two runs on seven hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts, over six innings in his second start since returning from the DL last Saturday.

"It wasn't bad," Williams told reporters about Strasburg's effort. "The leadoff triple and then the base hit and they punched one more. But after that, he settled in and made some nice pitches to get out of that inning, too. I though he pitched all-in-all pretty well."

Williams sends ace Max Scherzer to the hill Friday night to try to stop the bleeding. The Nationals haven't been this far out of first place since May 6.