Gonzalez leads Padres past Giants 4-2
Posted Sep 09, 2009 9:09 PM
SAN FRANCISCO -Adrian Gonzalez hit his career-high 37th homer and drove in three runs, helping the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 Wednesday.
Wade LeBlanc (2-1) pitched a career-best seven innings to win his second straight start.
Gonzalez connected for a two-run shot in the third. Oscar Salazar also homered for the Padres, who have won 10 of their last 13 series.
Andres Torres hit a two-run homer for the Giants. The NL wild-card contenders have lost three of their last four.
Barry Zito (9-12) gave up three runs on six hits over five innings. He lost his fourth straight decision to the Padres.
LeBlanc allowed two runs on four hits. He retired 11 straight before walking the first two batters of the eighth.
Luke Gregerson, who earned his first major league win Tuesday night, came on to get pinch hitter Kevin Frandsen to pop up a bunt attempt, struck out pinch hitter Eugenio Velez and retired Freddy Sanchez on a popup.
Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his 37th save in 40 chances, matching St. Louis closer Ryan Franklin for the NL lead.
The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the first when Everth Cabrera beat out an infield single, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Gonzalez.
Torres' third home run in the third brought the Giants within 3-2 but they never seriously threatened again until the eighth.
NOTES: Giants LHP Randy Johnson (strained left shoulder) threw 30 pitches off a mound near his home in Arizona on Tuesday, the second time he's thrown off a mound since the injury on July 6. ... Giants OF Eugenio Velez bruised a finger sliding into second base on Tuesday night was out of the starting lineup. ... LeBlanc made his fourth consecutive road start. ... Salazar batted fifth for the first time.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
2009-09-09 21:22:48
This comment has been deleted.
This comment has been deleted.
Uh, last I heard, they test all players. You sound like a brain transplant candidate...somebody better check you for a brain, Mr. Scarecrow.
If the Giants had a couple more long ball sluggers we would be talking a shot at the World Series !