SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Mac Williamson homered for the second straight night, hitting a tiebreaking shot in the sixth inning to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
Brandon Belt hit his fifth home run in six games, Joe Panik added three hits and scored twice, and the Giants won their third straight and fourth in the last five.
One night after hitting a 464-foot homer in the series opener, Williamson hit a first-pitch solo shot to center off Tanner Roark with two outs in the sixth inning that bounced off the top of the wall and broke a 3-all tie. It wasn’t as far as Monday’s clout – this one went 423 feet – but was just as pivotal for the Giants.
Williamson’s deciding home run came one inning after he stumbled over the bullpen mound in foul territory and crashed into a low wall near the stands while trying to chase down Bryce Harper’s foul ball. Williamson stayed down briefly as team trainers rushed out before getting to his feet.
Belt hit a two-run shot off Roark (1-2) in the third.
Michael Taylor had a three-run homer for Washington, which has lost four straight and 14 of 20 since opening the season 4-0.
Reyes Moronta (1-0) retired six batters for his first career win. Sam Dyson pitched one inning and Hunter Strickland worked the ninth for his fifth save.
The Giants got a run off Roark in the first but left the bases loaded when Evan Longoria struck out looking to end the inning. Belt homered on a 3-2 pitch from Roark in the second to make it 3-0.
Washington tied it on Taylor’s three-run homer off starter Ty Blach in the third. Ryan Zimmerman walked and Moises Sierra singled before Taylor’s deep drive into the right-field stands.
Blach allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.
Roark went into the game 6-0 in seven career games against San Francisco but couldn’t find a rhythm this time. He allowed four runs on six hits, walked two and hit a batter and threw a pair of wild pitches.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: Placed RHP Shawn Kelley on the 10-disabled list with ulnar nerve irritation in his right elbow. Infielder/outfielder Matt Reynolds was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and outfielder Rafael Bautista and infielder Adrian Sanchez were called up.
UP NEXT
Nationals RHP Max Scherzer (4-1, 1.36 ERA) and Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (1-0, 0.00) take to the mound for the series finale at AT&T Park on Wednesday. Samardzija is making his second start after beginning the season on the disabled list.
