Giants find offense in 5-3 win against Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO - Joe Panik hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and the San Francisco Giants snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday.

Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer in the third for the Nationals, who couldn't protect an early 3-0 lead hours after acquiring All-Star closer Mark Melancon from the Pittsburgh Pirates to replace the struggling Jonathan Papelbon.

San Francisco, which is beginning to get healthy, loaded the bases against former Giants reliever Yusmeiro Petit (3-2) with one out in the seventh to bring up Panik. The Giants won for only the third time in 14 games since the All-Star break.

Derek Law (4-1) pitched the seventh for the win.

Trevor Brown drew a bases-loaded walk from Blake Treinen in the seventh to give San Francisco an insurance run.

Giants right fielder Hunter Pence was activated from the disabled list after missing 48 games with a strained right hamstring that required surgery.

He received a roaring ovation when introduced before the game and again when he took his spot in right field before first pitch, and the outfielder acknowledged the greeting by nodding his head and saying thanks. Welcomed by another standing ovation when he stepped into the batter's box leading off the second, Pence ripped a double off the left-field wall, and the sellout crowd jumped up to cheer once more.

San Francisco hopes Pence will bring some much-needed life to a team that has won the World Series in every even year this decade - 2010, '12 and '14.

Newly acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez hit a two-run double in the fourth while making his first start since joining the Giants in a trade from Minnesota on Thursday.

Nunez popped out foul to the catcher with the bases loaded to squander San Francisco's chance in the second.

He played shortstop Saturday because Brandon Crawford, who lined into a bases-loaded triple play during Friday's 4-1 loss, had a sore left hand from a swing early in Friday's game.

Crawford entered for defense in the ninth Saturday.

Santiago Casilla closed it out for his 23rd save on a day decided by the bullpens after each starter only lasted four innings.

Rendon connected against Jake Peavy, who is winless over four outings since beating Colorado on July 4.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: CF Denard Span also was out of the lineup because of a tender quadriceps from a collision at home plate Friday, but he came in to pinch hit in the sixth. Manager Bruce Bochy wasn't sure whether he would be ready to start by Sunday's series finale. ... 3B Matt Duffy (left Achilles strain) was starting a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento then set to go to Double-A Richmond while the Giants are on the East Coast, so he will be nearby. ... INF Ramiro Pena was designated for assignment to clear roster room for Pence's return.