Blach leads Giants’ 10-0 rout of Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Ty Blach looked like Madison Bumgarner out there.
The rookie left-hander tossed his first career shutout and became the first pitcher in eight years to walk three times as the San Francisco Giants routed the skidding Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 on Friday night.
Denard Span had five hits to lead the Giants’ offense. Making his eighth start for the injured Bumgarner, Blach (4-2) scattered seven hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter to win his fourth consecutive start.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “As a kid, you dream about pitching in a big league game and pitching a shutout. I executed well and felt fresh.”
Blach has thrown at least seven innings and allowed three runs or fewer in five straight starts.
“He’s stepped in and done a terrific job,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He commanded the ball well.”
Eduardo Nunez added three hits and three RBIs for the Giants, who snapped a three-game losing streak. They had a season high in runs by the sixth inning and tied a season best with 15 hits.
“Good to see (Span) break out like that,” Bochy said.
Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff (0-6) gave up five runs – four earned – and six hits, walking five in 2 ⁄ innings, his shortest career outing. Eickhoff was Philadelphia’s most consistent pitcher last season, but has struggled this year.
The Phillies (17-35) have lost five in a row and 26 of 32. They have the worst record in the majors.
The Giants scored two runs in each of the first two innings. Brandon Crawford had a pair of sacrifice flies, and Nunez ripped a two-run double in a fourrun sixth.
Blach walked his first three times up and struck out his next three. He worked a 3-2 count in his fourth plate appearance before hitting a foul ball and taking a third strike. He went down swinging in the eighth and ninth.
Colorado’s Aaron Cook was the last big league pitcher to draw three walks against Milwaukee on Oct. 1, 2009.
“Just trying to get a good pitch to hit and work the count,” Blach said.
Bumgarner is known for helping himself with the bat in a different way. He has 16 career homers.
Yuba City native Brock Stassi did not play.
ROSTER MOVE The Giants purchased OF Austin Slater’s contract from Triple-A Sacramento and designated OF Justin Ruggiano for assignment. Slater was 1 for 4 with a walk and an RBI in his major league debut. Nationals 13, Athletics 3 OAKLAND – Daniel Murphy and Brian Goodwin each had four hits, including a home run, and Stephen Strasburg pitched seven strong innings as Washington defeated Oakland.
Murphy was 4 for 5 with two RBIs including his 10th home run. He’s 10 for 18 with three extra-base hits and five RBIs over his last four games since missing three games last weekend with an illness.
Goodwin played right field in place of Bryce Harper, who was serving the third of his four-game suspension for his role in Monday’s brawl with the San Francisco Giants. His home run was his first in the majors and the four hits were a career high.
Dusty Baker’s 1,800th managerial win was Washington’s fourth straight and ninth in 11 games. The Nationals combined for 20 hits.
Oakland lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Strasburg (7-1) struck out seven and allowed two runs, four hits and three walks.
Murphy and Michael Taylor hit solo home runs off A’s starter Andrew Triggs (5-5) to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.
Matt Joyce hit a two-run home run off a 0-1 94 mph fastball Strasburg left over heart of the plate in the bottom of the third.
Triggs lasted just 3 ⁄ innings, allowing six runs and nine hits including two home runs in his shortest start of the season.
Reliever Zach Neal gave up seven runs and nine hits including three home runs in 3 ⁄ innings.
Yonder Alonso hit his 15th home run for the A’s.