Anthony DeSclafani tossed his second shutout of the season and the visiting San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 1-0 in the opener of a four-game series Friday night, in a game that also featured an early departure by Nationals starter Max Scherzer to injury.

Buster Posey homered for the Giants, who have won nine of 12.

DeSclafani (6-2) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out eight with 103 pitches. He threw a three-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on April 26. It was his third career complete game.

San Francisco left fielder Mike Tauchman robbed Juan Soto of a potential game-tying home run with a leaping catch in the seventh.

Scherzer left with an injury in the first inning after throwing just 12 pitches. In the final season of a seven-year contract, Scherzer appeared to squat briefly and wince after a pitch to Brandon Belt. After manager Dave Martinez and the Nationals trainer came to the mound, the right-hander threw one warmup pitch before leaving the game.

Paolo Espino (0-2) relieved Scherzer, allowing one run in 3 1/3 inning as five Nationals relievers combined to allow one run over 8 2/3 innings of what became a bullpen game.

The Nationals, who were shut out for the eighth time this season, have lost four of five.

With one out in the fourth, Posey connected with an 0-1 slider from Espino for his 11th home run of the season, a shot to left center.

In the seventh, Soto timed a 3-2 changeup and sent a shot to deep left-center, but Tauchman got to the wall in front of the Giants' bullpen, leaped and made the catch. Josh Bell followed with a ground-rule double, but DeSclafani retired Kyle Schwarber to end the inning.

Soto got a measure of revenge when he made a sliding catch in right field to rob LaMonte Wade Jr. of a possible hit in the eighth.

--Field Level Media