Yet the Giants' lineup didn't reflect the place and time. Manager Bruce Bochy packed his batting order with veterans again, and they looked even older and stodgier after managing just two hits in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Nationals.
Scratch that. Make it one hit. Nate Schierholtz, newly recalled from Triple-A Fresno, had the other. He lined a pinch single.
Otherwise, Pedro Feliz's home run was their only offense against rookie Joel Hanrahan and four relievers. Jonathan Sanchez paid the price, taking a loss in his first start of the season despite leaving a 1-all game in the sixth inning.
Reliever Scott Atchison gave up two soft singles and a sacrifice fly as both of his inherited runners scored.
After the game, the question was obvious: Why oh why would Bochy sit all his younger players, especially against an opponent out of contention? Except that question already was asked before the game.
"It's going to be hard to give them all the playing time we'd like to give them," Bochy said. "We'll get them out there as much as we can."
