Slater, Giants secure win over Nats

WASHINGTON — Serving in the same platoon role as he has for the past two seasons, Austin Slater simply hasn’t gotten many opportunities as the Giants faced a stretch of seven straight right-handed starters to begin this road trip.

The platoon role took some adjustment for Slater, a former prospect who was used to regular opportunities against pitchers of any handedness. He called last season — his first taking more at-bats against lefties than righties — a learning experience. One thing he picked up: stay ready for the next southpaw. So he had ample time to prepare for the Giants’ series opener Friday night against Nationals lefthander Patrick Corbin.

And, boy, Slater was ready for the middle-in sinker he got from Corbin with two on, one out in the second inning. Slater put the pitch in the rightfield seats, 394 feet away, as if to answer any doubts about the .385 OPS he carried in to Friday night’s 7-1 win.

Before the game, Slater used good, ol’ English to explain why he wasn’t concerned about his icecold start to season.

“There’s been a little lull, but it’s a long season,” Slater said. “This was my role last year. Pretty prepared. Just status quo.

There’s always points in the season where you go through stretches like this in the role that I’m in. I felt like last year was a learning experience when it came to that.”

It had been more than a week since Slater’s last start, last Wednesday in the finale of the

Giants’ season-opening homestand, and his batting average was dangerously close to dropping below .100.