SAN FRANCISCO — Manager Bruce Bochy knows that if the Giants are going to stay in contention for a National League wild card spot they will have to pile up victories at Oracle Park, starting with the eight-game homestand that began Monday night.
“This is where you play well and where you win ballgames,” Bochy said before the opener against the Washington Nationals that sets the table for subsequent home series against Philadelphia and Oakland.
“We’re going to have to play good ball against these teams.”
This wasn’t what the Giants’ skipper had in mind.
Two hot Giants pitchers — starter Jeff Samardzija and reliever Sam Coonrod — struggled through five laborious innings and the Nationals took a 4-0 victory in front of 32,366 fans.