Nationals turn triple play against Giants in 4-1 win

AN FRANCISCO - The Washington Nationals turned the first triple play in their 12-season history, holding on in the eighth inning to help preserve a strong outing by Max Scherzer and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Friday night.

The Giants loaded the bases in the eighth with two walks sandwiched around a single. Brandon Crawford then lined an 0-1 pitch from Sammy Solis to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Zimmerman quickly stepped on first base for the second out, then threw to third baseman Anthony Rendon to catch Denard Span to complete the triple play.

The Nationals didn't get to keep the ball from their milestone play, however. Rendon casually flipped it into the stands after the play. San Francisco put two runners on base in the ninth but Shawn Kelly struck out new Giant Eduardo Nunez for his sixth save.

Jayson Werth had two hits for the Nationals to extend his on-base streak to 32 games, tied with Boston's Dustin Pedroia for the longest active streak in the majors, and Ben Revere hit a tiebreaking single in the fifth. Daniel Murphy added an RBI triple while Wilson Ramos doubled and scored to help the Nationals win their second in a row in this four-game series between division leaders.

Scherzer (11-6) had lost four of his five career starts against the Giants and a no-decision in Game 4 of the 2012 World Series before holding San Francisco to one run over seven innings. The four-time All-Star retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced and finished with six strikeouts and two walks.

Four relievers combined to retire eight batters.

Four players had two hits apiece for the Giants. San Francisco fell to 2-11 since the All-Star break.

All of Washington's runs came off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija (9-7).

NOTES

Nunez, obtained a day earlier in a trade from Minnesota, was added to the 25-man roster and was in uniform. To make room, outfielder Jarrett Parker was optioned down to Triple-A Sacramento.

3B Matt Duffy (left Achilles strain) took infield and ran the bases before the game in anticipation of beginning a rehab assignment.