Giants slam Nationals

WASHINGTON -- John Bowker admitted to getting pumped up after watching Rich Aurilia get an RBI single before his at-bat.

Bowker's grand slam capped a six-run eighth inning, Jonathan Sanchez won his third straight start and the San Francisco Giants beat the Washington Nationals 6-0 on Saturday night.

Bengie Molina fought out of an 0-2 hole, singling to score Jose Castillo, and Aurilia hit a 1-2 pitch after Ray Durham had drawn a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Bowker then came up against reliever Luis Ayala and got his fifth homer of the season and first career grand slam.

"Richie's at-bat was really an unbelievable at-bat," Bowker said. "(It) kind of fired me up. To go up there and do that, it was awesome."

Aurilia finished with three hits for San Francisco, which relied on a big inning for the second straight night to again subdue the Nationals.

Sanchez (5-3) allowed four singles, walked two and struck out four in seven innings.

"He is so focused out there and he is maintaining it no matter what is happening," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Sanchez.

Tyler Walker and Pat Misch each got three outs to finish off the four-hitter, San Francisco's fifth shutout of the season. The Giants have won 10 of 16 games and five straight on the road.

Washington was blanked for the ninth time this year and third time in seven games.

This story was originally published June 8, 2008 at 2:55 AM with the headline "Giants slam Nationals."