*Photo from KMPH*
The sweep has been avoided. Nick Ahmed drove in two runs, Jordan Hicks had a strong start, and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals with a 7-1 victory Wednesday in San Francisco.
The Giants avoided the sweep with the series finale win, improving to 5-8 to open the season. Ahmed and Fitzgerald each had 3 hit days for the Giants, with Ahmed driving in two runs and Fitzgerald stealing two bases. Fitzgerald made the most of his first start since March 31.
Fitzgerald said after the game that "I just had a lot built up and I was ready to get after it and ready to play. I just got my opportunity and I’m excited I finally took advantage of it. It is difficult, but I’ve taken more swings in the past week than I ever have in my life. I probably took 200 swings a day off the machine and it got to the point where the coaches told me to stop. But I just wanted to stay ready, because I knew the opportunity was coming eventually."
Joey Gallo gave the Nationals an early lead, hitting a solo home run in the top of the second to make it 1-0. In the bottom of the second, Ahmed hit an RBI triple to score Matt Chapman and tie the game 1-1. Ahmed then scored on an RBI single from Fitzgerald to make it 2-1 Giants before an RBI single from Austin Slater made it 3-1.
Wilmer Flores hit a sac fly in the 5th inning to score Ahmed and make it 4-1 Giants. Michael Conforto tacked onto the lead with an RBI single that brought home Fitzgerald to make it 5-1. In the 6th, Ahmed hit an RBI single that made it a 6-1 game before LaMonte Wade Jr hit an RBI single of his own to make it a 7-1 game.
Hicks made the start for the Giants, making his 3rd start after being transitioned to a full time starter. He allowed one run in 6 innings to get the win. Ryan Walker, Landen Roupp, and Erik Miller each threw a scoreless inning to secure the win.
San Francisco manager Bob Melvin said of Hicks that "He’s talented, but what’s impressed me most is the mix of pitches he uses now. It was mostly fastball/slider, now he’s got a sweeper, a split. His velocity will go anywhere from 92-100 mph, which is very tough for a hitter to keep track of."
Patrick Corbin took the mound for the Nationals, getting charged with 7 runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings, getting the loss. Derek Law pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings before Tanner Rainey had a clean inning of his own.
Washington manager Dave Martinez said of Corbin's start that "His line won’t look good, but I thought he pitched better than what his line says. So we’ll get him back out there and get him going. When he threw the ball down, it was effective. When he throws the ball up, he gets hit pretty hard."
Both teams have a day off Thursday before starting weekend series' Friday. The Giants head east to take on the Tampa Bay Rays with Keaton Winn getting the start. Jake Irvin will start for the Nationals as they tangle with the Oakland Athletics.
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