Nationals’ fans boo, cheer appearance by Strickland

WASHINGTON — When

Hunter Strickland was introduced and headed from the bullpen to pitch the eighth inning of Sunday’s doubleheader opener, thunderous boos echoed throughout Nationals Park.

It was the fans’ way of welcoming the Giants’ pitcher who brawled with Bryce Harper on May 29.

“I don’t blame them,” Strickland said. “They’re obviously pulling for him and don’t like how it went down last time. I don’t expect anything different.”

Manager Bruce Bochy jokingly said he did.

“I had said standing ovation,” Bochy said. “I was a little surprised.”

The Giants led 4-0 when Bochy summoned Strickland, and the boos turned to cheers when Brian Goodwin reached on an infield single and Anthony Rendon smacked a two-run homer — just the third homer Strickland yielded this year.

Strickland pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the nightcap. His appearances came one night after Harper’s frightening fall at first base left him with a hyperextended left knee and serious bone bruise on the inner portion of the knee. The injury wasn’t as bad as feared, and the Nationals said it’s possible Harper will play again this season.

“That’s huge. That’s huge for them. Huge for him in his career,” Strickland said. “You obviously don’t wish an injury on anybody, no matter what the situation is. That’s definitely good news for both parties.”

Bochy, who knows what it’s like to miss a superstar for an extensive period of time — see

Buster Posey, 2011, among other examples — was relieved to hear the Harper update.

“You hate to see it, especially with the team in their situation,” Bochy said. “We’ve been there. It’s something you have to overcome. They still have a great heart of the order, but that’s great news for them.” Briefly: Pablo Sandoval hit his first home run with the Giants since Sept. 5, 2014, an upper-deck shot off Max

Scherzer. “It’s special, especially because it tied the game.” ... Sunday’s two games lasted 20 innings and 6 hours and 40 minutes with a long break in between. “It was a long day at the office,” said Sandoval, who played every inning. “I’ve been out a long time. I’m fresh. I wanted to give a break to guys who needed it.” ... Actually, three games were played Sunday because Saturday’s lasted past midnight. A total of 29 innings were played in just more than 24 hours . ... Bochy and Dusty Baker each picked up his 1,836th career win as a manager, one ahead of Lou

Piniella on the all-time list.