SAN FRANCISCO — Kurt Suzuki drove in four runs, Danny Espinosa and Roger Bernadina each knocked in three and the Washington Nationals routed the San Francisco Giants 14-2 Monday night in a matchup of NL division leaders.
Gio Gonzalez (15-6) tied a Nationals record for wins in a season, boosted by Washington’s highest-scoring game of the season.
The Nationals led 14-0 in the fifth inning and won for the 11th time in 13 games. They are 7-1 on this road trip.
NL ERA leader Ryan Vogelsong (10-6) allowed eight runs and nine hits in 2 2-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
Pinch hitter Brandon Crawford homered and drove in both runs for the Giants, who have lost three of five. The defeat dropped San Francisco into a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West lead.
Gonzalez returned to the Bay Area for the first time since the Oakland Athletics traded him to the Nationals during the offseason. He won his second straight after going 1-3 in his five previous starts.
Gonzalez gave up two runs and six hits over 6 2-3 innings.
Every Nationals position player, with the exception of late-inning replacement Cesar Izturis, either scored a run, drove in a run or got a hit. Bernadina had four of Washington’s 21 hits while Steve Lombardozzi, Ryan Zimmerman, Espinosa and Suzuki each had three. Suzuki’s three-run double capped a seven-run third that made it 8-0.
The 21 hits were most by a visiting team at AT&T Park.
Vogelsong ended up the evening with the fourth-best ERA in the NL. Of the 19 batters he faced, 11 reached base. He had not pitched fewer than six innings in any of his previous starts this season, and had not allowed more than two runs in any of his 11 previous home starts.
Washington has won 13 of its past 14 road games and owns the best road winning percentage in the majors. The Nationals have scored a major-league best 170 runs since the All-Star break. The Giants are second with 153. The Nationals have outscored San Francisco 38-14 in four games, all wins, this season.
NOTES: Giants INF Pablo Sandoval (hamstring strain) was activated from the DL. IF Brett Pill was optioned to Triple-A. … OF Jayson Werth was a late scratch for the Nationals. … LHP Madison Bumgarner (12-7, 3.08) pitches for the Giants on Tuesday night. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (9-6, 2.35) goes for the Nationals. He has eight wins against the NL West and seven against the NL East. He took over the NL lead in ERA. … Michael Morse extended his hitting streak to 11 games for the Nats. … Giants manager Bruce Bochy was ejected in the top of the second by first base umpire Jerry Layne while arguing a call. … The Nationals were 10 of 20 with runners in scoring position.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
