Despite falling behind 0-3, the Giants rallied back in the third game of their Washington series to win by a final score of 6-3. Barry Zito did not last long, but the bullpen was stellar once again.
Zito lasted just five innings, but only threw eighty-three pitches and did not have such a bad day. He scattered seven hits and gave up four walks that produced three runs. Lastings Milledge gave Washington a quick lead, homering off Zito in the first inning. The Nationals scored two more runs off Zito, driving in a run in the third and fourth innings. After the Giants took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, the bullpen held on, allowing just one hit and a walk over four innings of work. Jack Taschner pitched the sixth and seventh innings, striking out two and keeping the Nationals off the bases. Keiichi Yabu worked the eighth inning, giving up a double, but striking out two batters. Brian Wilson got his seventeenth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning, but allowed a baserunner on a walk.
The offense has been a big fan of the big inning lately, and had another one last night. Emmanuel Burriss ignited a four-run fifth inning with a single and stolen base. Leadoff man Fred Lewis did a good job getting on base with three hits and a walk in five plate appearances. Randy Winn drove in two runs with two singles. The outfielders had a nice day, Aaron Rowand also had a single and a double that drove in another run in the fifth inning. Ray Durham scored a run and was four-for-five with a double and three singles. Four of the regular Giants starters are now hitting above .300 (Bengie Molina, Rowand, Winn, and Durham).
The Giants will look to go for the four-game sweep of the Nationals tonight at 4:10 p.m. Matt Cain has struggled lately, but will be pitching against rookie Tyler Clippard. From Washington, the Giants will move onto Colorado.
