Whisenhunt allows three solo homers as SF Giants fall to Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO — Carson Whisenhunt’s third start in the majors encapsulated why he’s far from a finished product, as well as why he’s the Giants’ top pitching prospect.

Regarding the former, Whisenhunt allowed three runs on three homers over four innings and took his first loss as the Giants fell 4-2 to the Washington Nationals. He also walked three batters and allowed lots of hard contact. Regarding the latter, Whisenhunt struck out five batters and induced 19 swings-and-misses, including 11 with his signature changeup.

Opposing hitters were 1-for-18 against Whisenhunt’s sinker in his first two starts, but Whisenhunt allowed four hits on his sinker — including all three solo homers — against Washington. Along with the hits, the Nationals generated six batted-balls of at least 103 mph, the hardest-hit ball being Bell’s 107.8 mph home run.

The Giants’ offense had its opportunities to do damage, loading the bases in the third and eighth innings, but finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Rafael Devers’ solo homer in the sixth, his 22nd home run of the year, and Wilmer Flores’ pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth was San Francisco’s only offense of the day.

Whisenhunt immediately put San Francisco into a 1-0 deficit by allowing an opposite-field solo homer to leadoff hitter James Wood, who hadn’t homered since July 9.

Two innings later, Whisenhunt allowed two more homers in back-to-back at-bats. Former Giant Paul DeJong pulled a solo shot into the Giants’ bullpen, then Josh Bell followed up with his own opposite-field blast to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

Washington expanded its lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth as Wood drove home a run against Carson Seymour, but Devers got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the frame on Devers’ solo shot.