Up in San Francisco to face the team with the best record in baseball, the Nationals didn’t miss a beat and perhaps took the title of baseball’s hottest team from the Giants. Stephen Strasburg tossed six innings of one-run ball, striking out seven as Washington cruised 9-2.
It wasn’t all pitching, of course. Ian Desmond had three hits including a triple and a double while driving in five. Denard Span ripped two doubles and a triple. Jayson Werth drove in two himself. It was a total team effort.
The Nats have won eight of ten, outscoring their opponents, 62-18 in that span. Over their last 7 outings the Nats’ rotation has a 1.23 era with 51 strikeouts and only 1 walk. Most importantly, they have climbed 3.5 games up in the standings to tie the Braves.