Nationals take advantage of Cain's control problems early (Nats win 6-2)

The Nationals stepped into AT&T Park Wednesday night winners of nine of their last 11 and looking to hand the Giants their first three-game losing streak at home this season.

Matt Cain was a more than gracious host in the first inning, struggling with his command and walking the first three batters he faced. Adam LaRoche made him pay with a single just to the right of second base, plating Denard Span and Anthony Rendon, and the Nationals led 2-0. A Ryan Zimmerman groundout brought home Jayson Werth and it was 3-0 Nationals.

Cain had four walks in the first inning. The Giants got the bullpen going before their team even had a chance to hit in the top of the first.

Update: Brandon Crawford's one-out triple in the fourth scored Buster Posey and the Nationals' lead was cut to 3-1. Crawford now has five triples. The rally was short-lived, thanks to a pair of strikeouts by Roark and a spectacular play by Danny Espinosa at second base to rob Gregor Blanco of a base hit.

After four, the Nationals lead 3-1.

The Rockies dropped the Braves 8-2. So the Nationals gain a game in the loss column on Atlanta.

Update II: Werth crushed his sixth homer of the season in the fifth, a solo shot, and the Nationals got that run back. They lead 4-1.

Update III: Pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval delivered a two-out run-scoring single and the Nationals' lead was halved to 4-2 in the seventh.

Ryan Zimmerman made a good running catch of a Angel Pagan fly ball to end the inning. In the sixth, he made a spectacular diving catch of a Crawford liner down the left field line to end another threat.

Tanner Roark went six innings plus two batters, allowed seven hits, two runs, both earned, no walks and struck out four. He threw 95 pitches, 61 for strikes.

Update IV: Werth delivered huge two-run bases-loaded single in the ninth and the Nationals led 6-2. Werth had three RBIs on the night.

Jerry Blevins recorded three outs in the ninth to end the game.

It is the first time the Giants have lost three in a row at home since August 2013. The last time they lost three in a row at home to the same team was when they lost three straight to the Cubs at AT&T Park in July 2013.

The Nationals have won 10 of their last 12 games, and four straight. Washington is all alone in first place in the NL East. They have won the series against the Giants and are 5-1 so far on their 10-game road trip.

The Nationals beat the Giants 6-2. They have outscored San Francisco 17-5 in the series.