Recap: Hector Sanchez Saves Day, Giants win 4-3

Aug 15, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher

(54) is congratulated by catcher

(28) after recording the final out against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

All afternoon long it was looking like yet another game of missed opportunities by the Giants. Then, Hector Sanchez came up with a 2 out, pinch hit, 3 run home run to vault the Giants ahead of the Nationals 4-3 in the top of the 9th. Sergio Romo, aided by an amazing diving catch by Brandon Crawford, shut down the heart of the Nationals order to seal the 4-3 Giants victory.

Things did not look good early in this ball game. Ryan Voglesong only managed to make it to the bottom of the 4th inning in his second start since returning from the DL. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the 2nd, but wasn’t as lucky in the 3rd. The Nationals pushed across 3 runs as Vogelsong hung more than one pitch to the Nationals hitters.

Giants fans were seeing the same old story.

Jose Mijares replaced Vogey in the bottom of the 4th and got out of a 2 on, 2 out jam by getting  Bryce Harper to line out. Guillermo Moscoso kept the Nats scoreless in the 5th and the 6th in what may have been his best outing as a Giant so far. In the top of the 6th Brandon Belt stayed red hot by driving a 0-1 fastball from Dan Haren over the fence in left center field. It was an impressive opposite field shot that he was not hitting a few months back. The changes in his swing have made him a different player. Belt now holds the team lead in home runs with 15. Sandy Rosario entered in the bottom of the 7th and Adam LaRoche hit a line drive right back at the pitcherthat hit him in the midsection. He recovered to throw the ball to first but the crumbled to the ground in obvious pain. Acorrding to Hank Schulman, it’s a bruised sternum.

The top of the 9th started with a lead off base hit up the middle by Buster Posey. After Hunter Pence struck out swinging, Pablo Sandoval popped out to RF. Roger Kieschnick worked a walk against Nationals closer Rafael Soriano. For a guy without an extra base hit, and 20 K’s in 40 at bats, that might have been Kieshnick’s best plate appearance on the season.

Hector Sanchez came up to pinch hit for the pitcher. Soriano got ahead quickly as Sanchez fouled 2 fastballs away. The count went to 3-2 before Sanchez turned on a letter high inside fastball and turned certain defeat into a victory with a 3 run home run in the right field corner.

Hector Sanchez. I’m flabbergasted, so are you. That was the most surprising win of the year behind Angel Pagan‘s trip around the bases. Denise was pretty happy as well.

That was the first win for the Giants in Washington D.C. since April 30, 2011. They avoided being swept by the Nationals and have an outside chance at a winning road trip. The East coast swing continues tomorrow night for the Giants. Chad Gaudin (5-2, 2.43 ERA) will face the Marlins’ Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 2.82 ERA) at 4:10 PT at Marlins Park in Miami. Miami took 3 of 4 at AT&T Park earlier this season.