WASHINGTON (AP) — A six-barrel lead in the ninth inning wasn’t enough for Giants manager Gabe Kapler, and the Nationals kicked off.
With two outs at the top of ninth place Friday night and San Francisco 7-1 ahead, the Giants’ Thairo Estrada started on a 0-1 pitch and Brandon Crawford hit a single over Washington shortstop Alcides Escobar, who grabbed the ball and threw Estrada on the plate.
Escobar left the field, walked to the third baseline, and began yelling into the Giants’ dugout. He was soon joined by Victor Robles. Manager Dave Martinez and a group of Nationals came onto the field and Martinez led Escobar away. The Giants stayed in their dugout and the incident escalated no further as San Francisco defeated Washington 7-1.
“They did some things that we felt were inappropriate,” Martinez said. “But you can ask Gabe Kapler about it.”
Kapler has stated that he does not believe in baseball’s unwritten rules, such as: B. no bunting or running with a large lead. He said his team is playing aggressively out of respect for Washington’s lineup.
“We scored seven runs in an inning tonight. With Josh Bell, Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz in the middle of their lineup, we know they’re capable of putting in seven runs in an inning, too,” Kapler said. “It’s definitely not about increasing the score. We felt that we respect our opponents and we will respect our opponents at every turn. This is about using every tool we have to stay competitive.”
Escobar declined to comment.
The confrontation was the only tense moment late in a contest decided early on by struggling Nationals starter Patrick Corbin.
Austin Slater hit a three-run homer as part of a seven-run second inning. Slater, who hit out on the first look and hit .105 (2 of 19) to get into the game, fed Corbin’s 2-1 sinker to right center with an out to take it to 4-0.
“After the first at-bat, Gabe pulled me to the side and just reminded me that I was a good hitter and said, ‘Swag it out and be you and remember you’re a good hitter,'” Slater said . “I think the pep talk worked.”
Brandon Crawford doubled the second lead and then capped the goal with a three-run double just outside the reach of a diving Lane Thomas at left center. That chased Corbin (0-3), who allowed seven runs with seven hits and three walks while recording just five outs.
“Just putting too many people on base, not making pitches, not getting ahead of the guys and staying on offense,” Corbin said. “It was obviously frustrating. I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to talk to whoever and trying to figure out how to get better.
The left-hander who helped the Nationals win the 2019 World Series has since been one of the worst starting pitchers at the majors. Corbin went 9-16 with a 5.82 ERA last season and the Friday outing sent his ERA to 11.20 in three starts this year. He has three years left on a six-year, $140 million contract.
Jakob Junis (1-0), called up earlier in the day by Triple-A Sacramento, threw five scoreless innings of relief on his Giants debut. He allowed three hits and knocked out four. Opener Sam Long threw two scoreless innings.
Maikel Franco hit his second homer of the season for Washington. Soto played in the first single and his double in the third inning was his 500th career hit, but he was kicked out trying to stretch it to a triple.
CALL HIM MR. 1,000
Outfielder Luis Gonzalez was called up by Triple-A Sacramento on Friday. He started as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and became the 1,000th person to play for the San Francisco Giants (since 1958).
TRAINING ROOM
Giants: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (right ankle infection) put on 10-day injured list. …OF Steven Duggar (left oblique stem) was placed on top of the 60-day IL. …OF LaMonte Wade Jr. (left knee infection) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (last year’s thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) and RHP Joe Ross (right elbow bone spur removal) each threw a 30-pitch bullpen session.
NEXT
Giants LH Alex Wood (1-0, 1.93 ERA) is 5-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 13 career starts against Washington, the last coming with the Reds in 2019 when he had three runs with six hits over five innings allowed in defeat. The Nationals have not announced a starting pitcher for Saturday.
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