SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Stephen Strasburg outpitched Tim Lincecum, Danny Espinosa hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning and the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 6-4 on Wednesday.
One hitter Strasburg (14-5) didn’t have to face: All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera. He was suspended 50 games earlier in the day for a positive testosterone test.
Jayson Werth drove in three runs and Kurt Suzuki added a sacrifice fly for the NL East-leading Nationals, who won their fourth straight series and now head home for key series against divisional opponents New York and Atlanta.
Strasburg struck out seven and walked four in six innings to win his third straight start, while Lincecum’s latest shaky outing was over after just four innings.
Brandon Crawford hit a two-run single for the Giants, who began the day in a first-place tie atop the NL West with rival Los Angeles. The Dodgers were set to play a night game at Philadelphia.
