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Giants swat away Nats; Sandoval has broken bone in hand

May 1, 2011 - 1:57 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Aubrey Huff drew a bases-loaded walk to score the eventual game-winning run in the seventh, Eli Whiteside hit his first home run of the season and the San Francisco Giants took a 2-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

Jonathan Sanchez threw five innings, allowed one run, walked six and struck out seven in the no decision for the Giants, who evened this four-game set. Guillermo Mota (2-0) got the win by throwing a perfect sixth.

Rick Ankiel drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who had won two straight including Friday's series opener, 3-0. John Lannan (2-3) gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings in the loss, surrendered six hits and walked three.

On the injury front, the Giants were without third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game with a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Sandoval experienced pain in his wrist during the Giants loss to the Nats on Friday and tests revealed the broken bone, which may require surgery.

The Nationals also found out before the game that Ryan Zimmerman will require surgery to repair a torn rectus muscle in his abdomen. The surgery will be performed in Philadelphia on Tuesday by Dr. Bill Myers and will set the third baseman back six weeks.

The Giants had an unlucky bounce in the seventh as Miguel Tejada looked as if he was going to score with ease when Mike Fontenot hit a ground-rule double that bounced over the center field fence. However, Tejada had to stay at third and Lannan intentionally walked Whiteside to fill the bases with two outs.

San Francisco then made its own luck when Huff worked the count for a pinch- hit walk to bring home Tejada and go up 2-1.

"We had chances to stay in that ballgame, and I had a chance to keep us right there, but I blew it with Huff," said Lannan. "I pitched too well to let the game be decided on that walk."

The Giants bullpen didn't make the win easy, though, as Sergio Romo and Javier Lopez combined for a shutout eighth to set up Brian Wilson's shaky ninth. The closer loaded the bases after drilling Jayson Werth in the back with two outs. He pitched a full-count to Adam LaRoche, who whiffed on a slider to end the game.

"There's no rating a performance when the Giants win a game. My job is to come in and get three outs, and I did," said Wilson. "It was a team effort. I just did my part, and the rest of the guys did theirs."

The Nationals got on the board in the second when Ankiel hit a soft liner that tipped off of shortstop Fontenot's outstretched glove to bring home Ian Desmond.

The Giants tied it right back up during their next at-bat on Whiteside's one- out solo shot over the left field fence.

Game Notes

The Giants recalled third baseman Ryan Rohlinger from Triple-A Fresno to fill Sandoval's roster spot...The Giants won four of six against the Nationals a season ago...Giants outfielder Darren Ford got his first career hit in the eighth with a single to center field...Wilson recorded his eighth save of the season.