Scherzer hurt, Giants beat Nats 1-0 behind Posey, DeSclafani

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington ace Max Scherzer left after just 12 pitches with an apparent lower body injury, Buster Posey homered and the San Francisco Giants beat the Nationals 1-0 on Friday night on Anthony DeSclafani's career-best two-hitter.

Giants left fielder Michael Tauchman made a leaping catch to rob a home run for the second time in less than a month.

A crowd of 18,029 attended the first game at Nationals Park without capacity limits since the 2019 World Series.

Scherzer, a 36-year-old right-hander with three Cy Young Awards, retired leadoff batter LaMonte Wade Jr. on a fly ball to left and had a 3-2 count on Brandon Belt when he stretched his body, and manager Dave Martinez and director of athletic training Paul Lessard went to the mound.

Scherzer took one warmup toss before exiting. Scherzer is 5-4 with a 2.21 ERA and began the night second in the NL with 104 strikeouts.

DeSclafani (6-2) struck out eight and walked on his his third career shutout and complete game, He pitched a four-hitter for Cincinnati at Arizona in August 2016 and a three-hitter against Colorado this April 26.

San Francisco pitched its major league-leading ninth shutout. The Nationals have been blanked eight times.

Tauchman leaped at the left field wall to rob Juan Soto in the seventh. On May 28 at Dodger Stadium, Tauchman took away what would have been a game-winning home by Albert Pujols in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium, and the Giants went on to beat Los Angeles in the 10th.

DeSclafani retired his first nine batters before Trea Turner singled leading off the fourth. Josh Bell doubled with two outs in the seventh off DeSclafani, who faced only one more than the minimum 27 batters. DeSclafani has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive road starts.

Posey homered in...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Scherzer-hurt-Giants-beat-Nats-1-0-behind-Posey-16242784.php