Duffy missed the cycle despite Giants has won

This time, Matt Duffy decided to think less when it came to trying to complete Dave Parker Black Jersey a cycle. He didn't get it, but things still turned out well for the rookie third baseman. Duffy homered among his three hits and drove in three runs, Hunter Pence also had a homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 8-5 Friday night. "I'm always looking for a pitch to hit," Duffy said. "The last time (a cycle) could happen, I took a couple of pitches and started thinking too much." Duffy missed the cycle - falling a triple short - while settling for a sacrifice fly in his final at bat. Gregor Blanco added three hits and drove in two runs for the Giants, who have won three of four since being swept in a four-game series by the Cubs in Chicago. "That dude put on a clinic tonight," Duffy said. "He hit a couple of doubles, got a bunt down to move a runner and beat it out, stole a couple of bases and made a couple of nice catches. I don't want to say he's perfect, but he was perfect in the leadoff spot for us." Bryce Harper homered http://www.officialmarinersshop.com/authentic-15-kyle-seager-jersey.html and drove in four runs and Danny Espinosa also went deep for the Nationals, who lost their fourth straight and fifth in the last six. "Of course you want to win ballgames but our offense looked pretty good and I hope we can carry that over into tomorrow," Harper said. "I was ready for something over the plate and he gave it to me. I was able to put a good swing on it." Max Scherzer (11-9), facing the Giants for the first time since Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, gave up a season-high six runs on seven hits over three innings. He allowed two home runs and has given up five over his past two starts after giving up 13 through his first 22 starts. Scherzer struck out three and did not walk a batter. Giants starter Matt Cain failed to finish the fifth inning for a second straight start, allowing five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three. Cain has given up 18 runs over his last four starts and has a ERA of 8.24 over that stretch. Jeremy Affeldt (2-2) took over for Cain in the fifth and pitched an inning to get the win. Harper's 30th home run, a three-run shot in the fifth, pulled the Nationals to 6-5. Cain allowed two more baserunners - including one that reached on an error - before Affeldt ended the threat. Harper, who hit a sacrifice fly in the first, became the 37th player to hit as many as 30 home runs as a 22-year old. Duffy, who committed Ryan Howard Blue Jersey two of the Giants' three errors, homered in the first, doubled in a run in the second, singled in the fourth and hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth.