Nationals speedster Trea Turner stood near first base, mimicking the pickoff move of Giants left-handed starter Derek Holland.
Turner had just been picked off base by Holland, and the Nationals shortstop was trying to convince first-base umpire Paul Nuert that Holland had balked.
Nuert wasn’t buying what Turner was selling in the third inning Sunday, and the Nationals didn’t have much luck hitting either in a 2-0 loss to the Giants in the finale of the three-game series.
“Looking back at the tape it was just a good move,” Turner said. “I wasn’t trying to steal.”
Washington was held to three singles and also had trouble on the bases, as Michael A. Taylor was thrown out trying to steal second in the seventh when his hand came off the base.
“He was safe. I have been there, done that plenty of times,” Turner said of Taylor, who had stolen third base in the fifth. “That is tough. If they are giving it to you, steal it.”
“We like to be aggressive,” manager Dave Martinez said.
The Nationals (36-27) lost two of three games to the Giants and ace Max Scherzer fell for the first time at home this season. It was just the third time this season the Nationals have been shut out — tied for the fewest in the National League.
After scoring at least five runs in each of the previous three games — something the Nationals had not done in nearly two months — Washington had just three singles and no runs in five innings against Holland (4-6).
“He pitches inside to righties pretty well. That makes it tough on you,” Turner said of Holland, who was facing the Nationals for the first time.
Scherzer (10-2) had won nine straight and had not lost since April 4, when he fell in his second start of the season in Atlanta. Scherzer gave up just two runs and four hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts on Sunday, but he was not afforded any offensive support.
“Max pitched really well,” Martinez said. “You have to score runs to win.”
Scherzer struck out six straight batters at one point, including all three in the second inning.
The Giants broke the scoreless tie in the fourth as Pablo Sandoval led off with a walk and then Brandon Crawford crushed a homer to right for a 2-0 lead on a cutter from Scherzer.
“It is always evolving,” Scherzer said of his cutter. “The league is making an adjustment on it. I have to sharpen it up just a tad. I know how I can make that pitch better.”
Crawford, the best hitter in the majors since May 1, went deep for the second time in his career against Scherzer. The Giants shortstop began the day hitting .326 and went 4-for-4 with the homer and two doubles to raise his average 12 points.
“He was better than me,” Scherzer said of hot-hitting Crawford, the first Giants player to get three hits in a game off him.
Giants closer Hunter Strickland retired Bryce Harper on a grounder to start the ninth inning and also got the final two outs for the save. Strickland hit Harper with a pitch last season in San Francisco before Harper charged the mound and a brawl ensued. But this game ended without incident as pinch-hitter Matt Adams fanned for the final out.
The Nationals gathered their gear late Sunday for a train ride to New York City. Washington is off Monday, and Tanner Roark (3-6, 3.56) is slated to pitch for the Nationals on Tuesday against CC Sabathia (3-1, 3.59) of the Yankees.
“We couldn’t get nothing going,” Martinez said. “Like I said, take our walks. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other guy. It was one of those days.”
NOTES: It was U.S. Army Day at Nationals Park. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by The Honorable Mark T. Esper, Secretary of the Army. General Mark A. Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, was part of the game ball delivery at home plate and Staff Sergeant Carlos Serrano, Aide to the Sergeant Major of the Army, yelled “Play Ball” before the first pitch … The Nationals’ annual gala Saturday night raised more than $1 million, according to the team. The game Sunday began at 4:05 p.m. due in part to the gala … Relievers Wander Suero and Trevor Gott were summoned from Triple-A Syracuse to take the spots on the active roster for Strasburg and Brandon Kintzler, who officially went on the 10-day disabled list.
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