BCraw >> Scherzer

The Giants took 2 of 3 from the Nationals, in their stadium.  The Nats have not exactly owned their home field, they are now 15 - 16 at home.  The Giants, in contrast, are 19 - 11 at home, but not so good on the road.  Maybe that will change. 

The Nats threw Max Scherzer.  Max Scherzer is the only NL pitcher with 10 wins (Cory Kluber also has 10).  Max Scherzer has 142 strikeouts so far in 2018, the next nearest pitcher has 18 fewer (Gerit Cole) and the next strikeout leader in the NL (de Grom) has 106.   Max Scherzer has an ERA of 2.00, that is the best in the National League.  The best Giants pitcher, Derek Holland, is 32nd in the National League at 4.54.   Brandon Crawford, however, is on the Giants, not the Nationals.

In the 4th inning, Pablo Sandoval walked.  Brandon Crawford, hitting next, put a Max Scherzer cutter into the 2nd deck.  Brandon Crawford hit over .400 in May and is currently hitting .462 for June.  That was it for the Giants scoring.  Meanwhile, Derek Holland was quietly throwing 5 innings of 3 hit shutout baseball.  He struck out 4 and walked 2 in 95 pitches.  The many-headed sort-of-monstrous bullpen took over after 5, neither Melancon, Dyson, Watson or Strickland allowed a hit (1 walk from each of Melancon and Dyson).  I think that is kind of becoming the formula - get 5 out of young starters, more if they're able, but don't hesitate to go to the MH SoMB.  It's working so far.  The final score was Giants 2 - Nationals 0.

So I leave you to ponder the question as a lovely Sunday slowly sinks into the west - could this be the start of a real good road trip?