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Bowker's grand slam backs Sanchez as Giants top Nationals

Jun 8, 2008 - 3:33 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Jonathan Sanchez has made a successful transition to starting.

Sanchez threw seven dominating innings to win his third straight start and John Bowker's first career grand slam capped a six-run eighth as the Giants notched a 6-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

In his first two seasons with the Giants, Sanchez pitched in 60 games and started just eight times. This season, he's been exclusively a starter and the lefthander is getting better and better.

Sanchez (5-3) held the Nationals to just four singles. In his last three starts, he's allowed just four runs and 16 hits in 19 innings and lowered his ERA to 3.70.

"He is so focused out there now, and he's maintaining it no matter what happens," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's not losing it. He's not getting distracted. That was his biggest problem early."

Sanchez struck out four and walked two. He was helped out by three double plays started by Omar Vizquel.

"I got three double plays. They got me out of jams," Sanchez said. "When you get ahead, you make the hitters swing early. I was getting frustrated getting people on base. I stay focused and do what I have to do."

Through seven innings, the Giants had been held scoreless by Shawn Hill. The righthander allowed just five hits and retired 15 straight batters at one point.

After Hill (0-3) retired Fred Lewis to lead off the eighth, Jose Castillo singled and Randy Winn doubled to right. Washington manager Manny Acta brought in Luis Ayala to face Bengie Molina, who singled to left past a drawn-in infield to plate Castillo.

Ayala walked Ray Durham to load the bases, and Rich Aurilia singled to center to score Winn for a 2-0 lead. Bowker hit a home run into the right field bleachers for his fifth home run of the season. It the Giants first grand slam of the season.

"I'm trying to be more patient at the plate," Bowker said. "The key to hitting is getting good pitches and not swinging at the bad ones."

The Giants scored a season-high seven run in the third inning on Friday and they followed it up with the six-run eighth.

"We had some great at-bats in the inning," Bochy said.

Meanwhile, the Nationals have lost six of seven and have scored just three runs in that span. It was the third time Washington has been shut out in the last six games and the ninth time this season.

Tyler Walker and Pat Misch finished off the shutout.

"We couldn't get anything going offensively," Acta said.

Hill has yet to win nine starts. He allowed seven hits and two runs in 7 1/3 innings and struck out two and walked a batter intentionally. Hill, whose sore elbow has restricted his bullpen sessions was happy with his first six innings.

"I just kind of kept them honest," Hill said. "Late in the game, it got away from me."

"It doesn't go unnoticed how well he pitched," Acta said.

Ayala, who has pitched in a major league-leading 35 games, allowed four runs and three hits with two walks in 2/3 innings.