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| Washington Nationals discover how tough the San Francisco Giants can be in October | Washington Nationals discover how tough the San Francisco Giants can be in October |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| For those who wondered why the name “San Francisco” across the chest of a jersey causes so much concern, tending toward consternation and then confusion in the month of October, the answer was on display on Friday afternoon in a 3-2 Game 1 win by the Giants over the Washington Nationals to start the National League Division Series. | For those who wondered why the name “San Francisco” across the chest of a jersey causes so much concern, tending toward consternation and then confusion in the month of October, the answer was on display on Friday afternoon in a 3-2 Game 1 win by the Giants over the Washington Nationals to start the National League Division Series. |
| At this time of year, many ask, “How the heck are these guys beating us when they didn’t look so tough for the previous six months?” The Giants are always pleased to provide the answer, especially in even-numbered years like ’10 and ’12, when they ended up as unexpected, yet worthy, world champs. | At this time of year, many ask, “How the heck are these guys beating us when they didn’t look so tough for the previous six months?” The Giants are always pleased to provide the answer, especially in even-numbered years like ’10 and ’12, when they ended up as unexpected, yet worthy, world champs. |
| You get to do the dramatic athletic deeds, like two long solo home runs in the seventh inning by the Nats, one of them a monstrous third-deck blast by Bryce Harper and the other a rocket shot off the back of the Nats’ bullpen by Asdrubal Cabrera. The Giants do all the mundane, meaningful stuff you miss. | You get to do the dramatic athletic deeds, like two long solo home runs in the seventh inning by the Nats, one of them a monstrous third-deck blast by Bryce Harper and the other a rocket shot off the back of the Nats’ bullpen by Asdrubal Cabrera. The Giants do all the mundane, meaningful stuff you miss. |
| “We’ll give [the Nats] a tough time, I promise. We always do this time of year,” said Giants special assistant Tony Siegle, who was the Nationals’ assistant general manager, in charge of holding everything together, in the team’s first years in Washington. “They’ll make all the plays, do it together and keep it close.” | “We’ll give [the Nats] a tough time, I promise. We always do this time of year,” said Giants special assistant Tony Siegle, who was the Nationals’ assistant general manager, in charge of holding everything together, in the team’s first years in Washington. “They’ll make all the plays, do it together and keep it close.” |
| He didn’t add, but could have: And we may end up one run ahead. | He didn’t add, but could have: And we may end up one run ahead. |
| The Giants form humble, collective game plans, like slapping a half-dozen pesky modest-looking singles into shallow center field off Nats starter Stephen Strasburg on a day when he touched 99 mph and may have thrown consistently harder than he has since Tommy John surgery in ’10. | The Giants form humble, collective game plans, like slapping a half-dozen pesky modest-looking singles into shallow center field off Nats starter Stephen Strasburg on a day when he touched 99 mph and may have thrown consistently harder than he has since Tommy John surgery in ’10. |
| Of all hitting methods, hitting back up the middle is the easiest for making contact by far. But it minimizes the chance of homers or even extra-base hits. It can increase the chance of grounding into double plays to middle infielders. But against a pitcher like Strasburg, who falls off the mound toward first base, the hole up the middle is even more inviting. And the Giants accepted that RSVP. Leadoff singles executed that way to start the third and fourth innings led to both runs off him. | Of all hitting methods, hitting back up the middle is the easiest for making contact by far. But it minimizes the chance of homers or even extra-base hits. It can increase the chance of grounding into double plays to middle infielders. But against a pitcher like Strasburg, who falls off the mound toward first base, the hole up the middle is even more inviting. And the Giants accepted that RSVP. Leadoff singles executed that way to start the third and fourth innings led to both runs off him. |
| In all, the Giants got eight singles, none of which traveled more than 220 feet in the air, off Strasburg, but they turned them into two runs in five innings, one of them unearned. Not much damage? Enough to hang an “L” on Strasburg in his first postseason start and run his pitch count high enough that he only got 15 outs. | In all, the Giants got eight singles, none of which traveled more than 220 feet in the air, off Strasburg, but they turned them into two runs in five innings, one of them unearned. Not much damage? Enough to hang an “L” on Strasburg in his first postseason start and run his pitch count high enough that he only got 15 outs. |
| The Giants execute precisely, so that you barely notice, the simple fundamental plays. They choose the proper safe base to which to throw on a humble sacrifice bunt, or make sure to glove a basic high-away fastball instead of letting it bounce off a catcher’s mitt, in a split-second of carelessness, and roll to the backstop. In the third inning, the Nats committed both those silly little sins, literally handing the Giants a gift run. And it proved to be the margin of victory. | The Giants execute precisely, so that you barely notice, the simple fundamental plays. They choose the proper safe base to which to throw on a humble sacrifice bunt, or make sure to glove a basic high-away fastball instead of letting it bounce off a catcher’s mitt, in a split-second of carelessness, and roll to the backstop. In the third inning, the Nats committed both those silly little sins, literally handing the Giants a gift run. And it proved to be the margin of victory. |
| First, Adam LaRoche fielded a well-placed bunt by winning pitcher Jake Peavy and, instead of conceding its excellence and throwing Peavy out at first, LaRoche tried for the flash play, throwing to second base for a force. The peg was comically late — by three feet. One out thrown away. Later in the inning, catcher Wilson Ramos lost his concentration for a blink and muffed that simple fastball, advancing both runners. That led to the “unearned” designation of a run, which was the very definition of how San Francisco actually does earn victories — with proper sacrifices and your mistakes. | First, Adam LaRoche fielded a well-placed bunt by winning pitcher Jake Peavy and, instead of conceding its excellence and throwing Peavy out at first, LaRoche tried for the flash play, throwing to second base for a force. The peg was comically late — by three feet. One out thrown away. Later in the inning, catcher Wilson Ramos lost his concentration for a blink and muffed that simple fastball, advancing both runners. That led to the “unearned” designation of a run, which was the very definition of how San Francisco actually does earn victories — with proper sacrifices and your mistakes. |
| The Giants’ third and ultimately decisive run began with a leadoff triple off the left field wall that probably should have been only a double if Harper, the man of the mighty homer, had hustled to the wall in case Denard Span went for, and missed, a leaping catch and couldn’t field the carom. Harper barely moved until he saw the ball rolling across the grass. Would the inning have played out differently with Joe Panik only at second instead of third? Maybe not. But you’d like to find out. | The Giants’ third and ultimately decisive run began with a leadoff triple off the left field wall that probably should have been only a double if Harper, the man of the mighty homer, had hustled to the wall in case Denard Span went for, and missed, a leaping catch and couldn’t field the carom. Harper barely moved until he saw the ball rolling across the grass. Would the inning have played out differently with Joe Panik only at second instead of third? Maybe not. But you’d like to find out. |
| The Giants also create a bullpen designed to have pitchers with specific strengths for late-inning matchups in tight games. Rookie Hunter Strickland, called up on Sept. 1, does one thing very well — throw hard. That works well against right-handed hitters, sometimes not so well against lefties who can lock in on that one pitch. | The Giants also create a bullpen designed to have pitchers with specific strengths for late-inning matchups in tight games. Rookie Hunter Strickland, called up on Sept. 1, does one thing very well — throw hard. That works well against right-handed hitters, sometimes not so well against lefties who can lock in on that one pitch. |
| Strickland entered in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs to face right-handed Ian Desmond, who has one of the greatest records in baseball hitting with the sacks drunk. After one ball, Strickland roared fastballs at 98, 99 and finally 100. Desmond flailed and missed all three. Rally over. | Strickland entered in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs to face right-handed Ian Desmond, who has one of the greatest records in baseball hitting with the sacks drunk. After one ball, Strickland roared fastballs at 98, 99 and finally 100. Desmond flailed and missed all three. Rally over. |
| The next inning, Harper and Cabrera, both hitting lefty, took Strickland fastballs at 97 and 96 mph half-way to the moon. But nobody was on base. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy is among the best at finding the highest leverage situations — men all over the bases — for his best matchups, even if it means less pleasant matchups with the bases empty. | The next inning, Harper and Cabrera, both hitting lefty, took Strickland fastballs at 97 and 96 mph half-way to the moon. But nobody was on base. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy is among the best at finding the highest leverage situations — men all over the bases — for his best matchups, even if it means less pleasant matchups with the bases empty. |
| In the eighth with two men on and one out , Desmond had another chance, this time against reliever Sergio Romo. Romo’s career ERA won’t dazzle you but his slider can turn a right-handed hitter who tends to chase them into mush. Desmond took one slider for a strike, then chased two and fanned again. | In the eighth with two men on and one out , Desmond had another chance, this time against reliever Sergio Romo. Romo’s career ERA won’t dazzle you but his slider can turn a right-handed hitter who tends to chase them into mush. Desmond took one slider for a strike, then chased two and fanned again. |
| The Nationals have tightened up their game this season, in part thinking ahead to October. They steal bases more efficiently and prevent steals far better. They bunt well. They kick fewer infield grounders and nobody lets so few balls get past their catchers. But the Giants may be just a bit crisper. | The Nationals have tightened up their game this season, in part thinking ahead to October. They steal bases more efficiently and prevent steals far better. They bunt well. They kick fewer infield grounders and nobody lets so few balls get past their catchers. But the Giants may be just a bit crisper. |
| This was a game in which the losing pitcher, Strasburg, threw a changeup at 91 mph while the winning pitcher, Peavy, maxed out with a fastball at 92. But Peavy nicked corners and left after 52 / 3 scoreless innings. | This was a game in which the losing pitcher, Strasburg, threw a changeup at 91 mph while the winning pitcher, Peavy, maxed out with a fastball at 92. But Peavy nicked corners and left after 52 / 3 scoreless innings. |
| The most vivid memory of this game will be, by far, the rare titanic top-deck homer by Harper. | The most vivid memory of this game will be, by far, the rare titanic top-deck homer by Harper. |
| What will be remembered by the 44,035 fans who watched the Giants? A bunch of singles, mostly to centerfield. And not a mistake of any kind anywhere in sight. | What will be remembered by the 44,035 fans who watched the Giants? A bunch of singles, mostly to centerfield. And not a mistake of any kind anywhere in sight. |
| Oh, yes, and a one-run victory. | Oh, yes, and a one-run victory. |
| Find a way to counteract it. Soon. | Find a way to counteract it. Soon. |
| More on the Nationals: | |
| Box score: Giants 3, Nationals 2 | |
| Boswell: Winning, the Giants way | |
| Wise: Harper provides a bright spot | |
| Strasburg solid in Game 1 defeat | |
| Nats face a tough climb against Giants | |
| Bog: Best and worst from Game 1 | |
| Zimmermann the same after no-hitter | |
| Photos: Scenes from Game 2 | |
| MLB playoff scores and schedule |