Marquis outduels Lincecum, Nats top Giants 3-0

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April 29, 2011BOX SCOREGIANTS POSTGAME VIDEOMLB PAGEMLB SCOREBOARD
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Mychael UrbanCSNBayArea.com

Our MLB Insider takes a look at the Giants' 3-0 loss to the host Nationals on Friday night in Washington, D.C.Lumber looking heavy: The offensive struggles that plagued the Giants for most of the three-game series in Pittsburgh apparently bummed a ride on the team plane and went right back to work at Nationals Park. Yes, Washington starter Jason Marquis was good. Very good, in fact. His two-seam fastball was particularly nasty. But San Francisco's lineup is too well-stocked with solid hitters to be dominated they way it's been in three of the past four games to start the 10-game road trip.Tough-luck Timmy: In his first start since walking six in an unsightly outing against the Braves last Saturday, Tim Lincecum didn't issue a single free pass. He didn't make any major mistakes, either, but Laynce Nix jumped on an offspeed pitch down the middle with a runner on in the second inning, and that was all Marquis needed on his way to winning a game that felt a lot more lopsided than the scoreboard suggests.Huff, Posey funk continues: It feels like it's been a long time since Aubrey Huff or Buster Posey imposed their respective will on a game, and that has to have a huge psychological impact. Particularly when it comes to Posey, the most gifted natural hitter on the club. The team has come to expect steady production from their second-year catcher, and when he's not getting the job done the rest of the lineup appears to press in an effort to pick up the slack.Sanchez worthy: Saturday starter Jonathan Sanchez (2-1, 3.21 ERA) has had his way with Jayson Werth. The former Phillies star is 0-for-15 with 8 K strikeouts against the left-hander. Sanchez is free from the flu bug that plagued him in his last two starts.
Andres update: Andres Torres continued his rehab of a strained left Achilles in an extended spring game. He had five at-bats in four innings under simulatedconditions and also stole a base. The assumption is that he will be activated from the DL when the Giants return from their road trip on May 6.

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