The Washington Nationals salvaged the three game series at home this weekend by taking the finale in a 3-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, marking just the second win at Nationals Park to open the regular season.
Sunday also marked the first shutout win of the regular season for the Nationals.
Catcher Keibert Ruiz delivered the lone multi-hit game for Washington in the win, though James Wood and CJ Abrams combined to go 0-for-7 with Curtis Mead proving to pick up the slack.
With Miles Mikolas making the start, the Nationals would once again turn to PJ Poulin as an opener in an effort to limit the number of innings on the veteran starter. Poulin lasted just 0.2 innings, though, after allowing three batters to reach base to leave Mikolas to get out of an early jam.
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Yet the two teams remained scoreless despite early chances.
The Nationals drew a bases loaded chance in the bottom of the third inning after Curtis Mead hit into a fielder's choice, yet it ended after Brady House and CJ Abrams flied out in consecutive at bats.
The deadlock would break open in the fifth inning after Nasim Nunez reached base on a bunt, then stole second to set up Keibert Ruiz with a runner in scoring position before a double drove him home. James Wood grounded out to push Ruiz to third, but it would be Curtis Mead to deliver the biggest play of the day after belting a 390 foot home run over the left field wall for his second home run as a National, pushing Washington ahead, 3-0.
The Nationals entered the sixth inning with Andrew Alvarez back on the mound after closing out the fifth inning, his first appearance merely hours after being called up to the active roster ahead of the series finale.
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Alvarez picked up the win and finished with a clean showing after finishing with five strikeouts and just three hits allowed in 4.1 innings, delivering the encouraging outing that fans have looked four out of the bullpen.
Now sitting at 10-12 overall heading into the week, the Nationals will stay home to begin a four game series against the Atlanta Braves with first pitch set for 6:45 PM on Monday, April 20. Jake Irvin is set to take the mound with ESPN set to broadcast the first Nationals game of the season.