Devers’ Early Blast Sparks Giants’ Dominant 5-0 Shutout Over Nationals—What Fueled Their Unstoppable Defense?

San Francisco’s Oracle Park was finally buzzing again Friday night as the Giants shrugged off an agonizing home losing streak that had dragged on for more than a decade. Rafael Devers, fresh off a mid-season trade from Boston, and rookie Casey Schmitt each blasted homers, catapulting the Giants to a firm 5-0 shutout over the Washington Nationals. Trust me, snapping an eight-game skid at home isn’t just a stat — it’s a statement.

Matt Chapman was solid, racking up two hits and driving in a run, while Dominic Smith’s bat kept sizzling, extending his hitting streak to 12 games with two singles. The real story, though, was on the mound. Kai-Wei Teng, a 26-year-old talent from Taiwan, carved through five innings in relief to earn his first major league win — holding the Nationals to just three hits, walking one, and fanning four. It was a masterclass in poise, backed up by a bullpen that closed out the night with precision.

The Giants had been flirting dangerously close to setting a disheartening record for longest home losing streak in San Francisco history, but this game pulled them back from the brink. Devers’ 21st homer early in the game off Jake Irvin set the tone, and Schmitt’s two-run shot in the sixth only put the icing on the cake. That game-changing fifth inning? After the Nationals loaded the bases with no outs, Devers made a clutch defensive play, cutting down a runner at home and triggering a double play — a sequence that might just have saved the Giants’ night.

With momentum regained and confidence restored, the Giants now look ahead to their next showdown, hoping this turnaround sparks something bigger.

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SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers and Casey Schmitt homered, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Friday night to snap their longest home losing streak in more than a decade.

Matt Chapman had two hits and an RBI for the Giants. Dominic Smith added two singles to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) pitched five smooth innings in relief for his first major league win. The 26-year-old from Taiwan followed opener Matt Gage and allowed three hits with one walk with four strikeouts.

Joey Lucchesi, José Buttó and Tristan Beck each retired three batters to complete the four-hitter.

The Giants had lost eight straight at Oracle Park — one shy of their longest home skid of the San Francisco era — before beating the Nationals for the third time in four meetings this season.

Devers, acquired from Boston in June, launched his 21st home run of the season off Jake Irvin (8-7) in the first. Chapman’s RBI single later in the inning made it 2-0.

Schmitt’s homer, a two-run drive in the sixth, was his second in six days.

San Francisco added a run in the eighth on Patrick Bailey’s infield single.

Irvin allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

Key moment

After the Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, Devers fielded a grounder to first base and threw out Josh Bell at home plate before the next batter, Jacob Young, grounded into a double play.