Nationals hit 2 HRs and beat Giants 5-1 behind Gonzalez

WASHINGTON -- Gio Gonzalez pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Trea Turner and Wilson Ramos homered and the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Friday night in a matchup of first-place teams.

Washington jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Jeff Samardzija (9-8), and Gonzalez made it stand up in arguably his finest outing of the season.

Coming off a tough 3-1 loss in San Francisco on Sunday, Gonzalez (7-9) struck out seven, walked one and had five three-up, three-down innings. The two hits he allowed were a solo homer by Angel Pagan in the fourth and a single by Denard Span in the sixth.

Sammy Solis gave up two hits in the eighth and Mark Melancon got three straight outs to complete the four-hitter.

It was the fourth straight win for the NL East-leading Nationals.

The Giants remain atop the NL West, though their lead is dwindling. Since the All-Star break, San Francisco is 5-14 and has allowed 32 home runs.

Samardzija has certainly contributed to the slide. The right-hander gave up five runs in seven innings and is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA in his four starts since the break.

Daniel Murphy picked up his 81st RBI with a first-inning single, and Ramos followed with a sacrifice fly.

Washington made it 3-0 in the third when Turner doubled and scored on a fly ball by Bryce Harper.

Pagan got the Giants' first hit with one out in the fourth, a drive into the left-field seats.

Turner restored Washington's three-run cushion in the fifth with his second homer of the season, the third of his career.

Ramos hit his career-high 17th home run in the sixth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: RHP Cory Gearrin (right shoulder strain) was scheduled to make his third rehab appearance with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday night. ... LHP Josh Osich (left forearm strain) threw in the bullpen Friday and could start his rehab assignment Monday.

Nationals: INF Ryan Zimmerman missed a fourth straight game after being hit in the left wrist with a pitch Sunday in San Francisco. "We hope he's better in a day or two," manager Dusty Baker said, adding that the team has not discussed putting Zimmerman on the DL. ... The Nationals are perplexed about RHP Joe Ross, who's been out for a month with shoulder inflammation and is still experiencing soreness. "We're trying to figure out what to do," Baker said.

UP NEXT

Giants: Matt Cain (3-6, 5.53) starts Saturday in the second game of the series. In his last outing, he pitched five hitless innings against the Nationals in SF.

Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (15-1, 2.63) has allowed one run and six hits over 13 innings in his last two starts.