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Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
Washington Nationals' Matt Adams, right, is met at home plate by teammate Bryce Harper after Adams' three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessWashington Nationals' Matt Adams, right, is met at home plate by teammate Bryce Harper after Adams' three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday,
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Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws to the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
Washington Nationals' Adrian Sanchez, right, is high-fived by teammate Wilmer Difo (1) after scoring on a single from Trea Turner during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessWashington Nationals' Adrian Sanchez, right, is high-fived by teammate Wilmer Difo (1) after scoring on a single from Trea Turner during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San
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San Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval, left, signals after hitting an RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessSan Francisco Giants' Pablo Sandoval, left, signals after hitting an RBI double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP
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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt slides safely into third base with a triple during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessSan Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt slides safely into third base with a triple during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 25: Adrian Sanchez #5 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Wilmer Difo #1 after he scored in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T; Park on April 25, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
lessSAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 25: Adrian Sanchez #5 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Wilmer Difo #1 after he scored in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T; Park on April 25,
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San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford makes an off-balance throw to put out Washington Nationals' Michael Taylor at first base after a ground ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessSan Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford makes an off-balance throw to put out Washington Nationals' Michael Taylor at first base after a ground ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 25: Pierce Johnson #58 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Washington Nationals in the fourth inning aat AT&T; Park on April 25, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
lessSAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 25: Pierce Johnson #58 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Washington Nationals in the fourth inning aat AT&T; Park on April 25, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo
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Jeff Samardzija hands the ball to manager Bruce Bochy, exiting in the fourth inning.
Jeff Samardzija hands the ball to manager Bruce Bochy, exiting in the fourth inning.
Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press
Washington Nationals' Wilmer Difo slides safely into third base after a sacrifice fly ball by Bryce Harper during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessWashington Nationals' Wilmer Difo slides safely into third base after a sacrifice fly ball by Bryce Harper during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, April 25, 2018,
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Washington Nationals' Wilmer Difo, right, gets an infield single past San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
lessWashington Nationals' Wilmer Difo, right, gets an infield single past San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 25, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP
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Giants scratch Williamson with sore neck, get crushed by Nats
Some winning streaks run headlong into a brick wall. In the Giants' case, it was padded.
Not that Mac Williamson alone could have saved his mates from Wednesday's 15-2 beatdown by Washington, which ended their streak at three victories. Spot Max Scherzer six runs by the fourth inning, as Jeff Samardzija did, and even 900-foot homers can't save you.
"It was one of those games that started off rough and gradually got worse," manager Bruce Bochy said. "In six of the innings we gave up crooked numbers. That's not going to work."
The Giants had not allowed that many runs in a game since a 17-7 loss to the Rockies in May, 2016, not at Coors Field, but at AT&T Park.
Williamson was in the original lineup, but Bochy scratched him with a stiff neck, the most damaging souvenir from his collision with a wall down the left-field line Tuesday night when he tripped over the bullpen mound chasing a Bryce Harper foul ball.
That initiated a debate about moving the mounds out of play, which most teams have done. Bochy conceded the layout was dangerous, but said AT&T Park lacks many realistic alternatives. He then looked toward Triples Alley, smiled and said. "I know the hitters could tell you where to put the mounds."
After the Giants beat the Angels once and Nats twice by scores of 4-2, 4-2 and 4-3, Samardzija could not pitch that kind of game in his second start off the disabled list.
He allowed three first-inning runs then walked to the dugout down 6-1 in the fourth after Matt Adams hit a three-run homer following an intentional walk to Bryce Harper.
A parade of ineffective Giants relievers followed (Pierce Johnson, Josh Osich, Cory Gearrin). By the seventh-inning stretch the Nats had 12 runs, all scoring with two outs.
Adams finished with six RBIs.
Samardzija was throwing 89-91 mph in the first inning, which led Bochy to take a trainer to the mound to see if his big starter felt OK. He did. By the fourth inning the Shark was hitting 93 mph.
The Giants rushed him back to the majors after one minor-league rehab and he has not been sharp, walking seven in 8 2/3 innings.
"Obviously it's just a little off," Samardzija said. "I've walked a handful of guys here in the first two starts, which isn't normal, so you're just trying to make up for a little ground you've missed. It's a little different script for me this year. We're going to keep working with it, keep getting better."
As hideously as this went for the Giants, they still won their second consecutive series, which will mean little if they cannot build upon it over the final seven games of the homestand. They have four against the Dodgers after Thursday's day off and three against San Diego.
Bochy expects Williamson to be back Friday night.
The Giants did well to take two of three from the Angels on the road then caught the Nationals at the right time. Washington is missing three regulars: Adam Eaton, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy, all of whom can grind at-bats.
The Giants have set their rotation for maximum impact against L.A. Johnny Cueto and Chris Stratton, the two best, will start in the doubleheader Saturday after Derek Holland goes Friday. Dodger-killer Ty Blach will pitch Sunday.
"It's a little early to say 'make your move,'" Bochy said. "We do need to pick it up. We've won two series. We don't want to be content with that. We do need to get more consistent here. It's important we have a good homestand before we hit the road."
Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman