WASHINGTON (AP) — Lane Thomas matched a Nationals record with four stolen bases, and Washington recorded its first series sweep in nearly two years with a 6-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Riley Adams homered and MacKenzie Gore threw five shutout innings for Washington, which completed its first sweep since taking two games from Toronto in August 2021. It was the Nationals’ first three-game series sweep since June 2021 against Pittsburgh.
“This weekend we played like I thought we’d play throughout, with a lot of energy,” manager Dave Martinez said. “It was a lot of fun. It was a great weekend for us.”
Joc Pederson homered for San Francisco, which dropped its fifth consecutive game. The Giants have scored just eight runs during their skid. They were hitless in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the series in Washington.
“We know we’re a better offense than we’re showing right now,” San Francisco manager Gabe Kapler said. “A lot of that has to do with clicking at the same time. The other thing that’s really important, and what we can do going forward, is just staying calm, not press at all. All good teams, all good offenses go through challenging times. This is another one.”
Thomas began the day with eight steals this season. He had not recorded a multi-steal game in 371 career appearances.
But he swiped second base in the first inning, second and third in the third, and third again in the fourth. He had three hits and scored two runs.
“I just do what they tell me to,” Thomas said. “He gave me the steal sign and I ran. Luckily, I was safe.”
It was the fourth four-steal game since the Nationals moved to Washington in 2005. Michael A. Taylor was the last National to accomplish the feat, on June 17, 2018. Trea Turner did it twice in 2017.
Gore (6-7) earned his first victory at home since April 2, striking out eight while working around four hits and two walks. The left-hander allowed back-to-back hits to begin the fourth, but struck out the next two batters before Thomas made a sliding catch in right.
Thomas also doubled Wilmer Flores off first after making a catch in deep right in the eighth.
“I told him ‘Hey, you’re a five-tool player — you did it all,’” Martinez said. “He was all-in. He’s been that way all year.”
Coupled with Jake Irvin’s victory Friday and Josiah Gray’s seven strong innings Saturday, Gore’s victory meant Washington starting pitchers earned wins in three consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 3-5, 2022.
“This series was great,” Gore said. “We’ve been playing hard and doing things the right way, and we finally got some results this series where we won all three.”
Anthony DeSclafani relieved San Francisco opener Scott Alexander (6-1) with two on and two out in the first. He walked Stone Garrett to load the bases before allowing Dominic Smith’s two-run single.
CJ Abrams’ sacrifice fly and Thomas’ RBI double in the fourth made it 5-0, and Adams homered just over the fence in left against DeSclafani in the fifth.
Pederson led off the seventh with a drive to left against Amos Willingham. It was his 10th homer of the season and second in three games after going 23 appearances without one.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Ross Stripling (0-3, 5.92 ERA) gets the ball Monday as San Francisco visits Detroit to make up an April 16 postponement.
Nationals: Washington’s homestand continues Monday against Colorado. LHP Patrick Corbin (6-10, 4.89 ERA) has 11 career victories against the Rockies, his most against any franchise.
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