Heliot Ramos powers San Francisco Giants as offense erupts ahead of Nationals clash

WASHINGTON: Heliot Ramos inspired a powerful offensive display as the San Francisco Giants broke out of their recent slump with a dominant 10-5 victory over the Washington Nationals in the opening game of their three-match series on Friday night.

Ramos delivered a standout performance, smashing a three-run home run and driving in four runs as the Giants produced their first double-digit scoring game of the season. San Francisco, which had struggled to score more than three runs in each of its previous five games, erupted for 15 hits in a commanding all-round batting effort.

The left fielder’s first homer of the season came after being left out of the starting lineup in the previous two games, a decision that appeared to motivate the 2024 All-Star. Ramos entered the match batting .231 with seven RBIs but responded with intent and aggression at the plate.

“Obviously, I know it’s early, but I took it personally and wanted to be better,” Ramos said, reflecting on his recent omission. “It helped me reset and focus on being more aggressive and intentional.”

Giants starter Logan Webb also praised Ramos’ response, calling him an “All-Star for a reason” after his explosive outing.

San Francisco’s offense was further boosted by home runs from Drew Gilbert and Casey Schmitt, while Matt Chapman contributed three hits and three RBIs in a complete team performance.

The Giants will look to continue their momentum in Saturday’s matchup as they send Adrian Houser to the mound against Washington’s Cade Cavalli.

The Nationals had some bright spots despite the loss, with James Wood and Daylen Lile hitting home runs and Jose Tena collecting three hits. Lile’s two-run homer was his first of the season, offering a small highlight in an otherwise difficult night for Washington