San Diego Padres defeat San Francisco Giants 5-3 in series-opener – MLB Update
The San Diego Padres overpowered the defending World Series Champions San Francisco Giants 5-3 in the four-game series-opener, at the AT&T Park on Monday, July 4.
The Padres took the 2-0 lead right in the first inning, then they managed to score one run each in the fifth, eighth and ninth inning while their pitchers allowed just three runs, two in the sixth and one in the ninth inning.
The Padres’ Chase Headley hit a sacrifice fly to the centre-fielder, allowing Will Venable to score against the Giants’ struggling starter Tim Lincecum in the top of the first inning to get a one run lead. Orlando Hudson then advanced it to 2-0 with his
line drive single to right-field.
After allowing these runs Tim Lincecum retaliated and created some trouble to the opposing batters but he could not carry his momentum in the fifth inning. In this inning, he allowed an RBI single that sent the struggling Giants’ line-up into more pressure.
The Padres’ starter Clayton Richard, on the other hand did not let the Giants’ squad stabilise even for a single moment in his five innings spell. He went only for two hits and three walks while he struck-out two batters to earn his fifth win of the season.
However, as soon as, he handed the responsibility to Ernesto Frieri, the Giants seemed to get their swing back.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Pablo Sandoval hammered a devastating 421-feet long two-run homer off Frieri to cut the lead by two runs. This hit advanced the Pablo’s hitting streak to 15 games.
The 3-2 score gave Giants some hope to get back into game but the Padres’ relievers ruled out all the options. Chad Quills tossed a no-hit seventh inning while Mike Adams allowed single hit eighth inning to get his 17th hold in the season.
The Padres’ catcher Nick Hundley drove in a fourth run in the eighth inning and Venable launched a 395-feet long one-run homer off the Giants’ closer Guillermo Mota in the ninth inning to put the Giants under 5-2 aggravated situation. However, Brandon Crawford
drove in a single in the bottom of the ninth inning to reduce it to 5-3 but it was not enough to take the game back into their side.
After losing their second straight triumph, the Giants now will try to make some positive changing in their batting rotation. For the next game on Tuesday, July 5 the Giants have scheduled their pitcher Matt Cain to face the Padres struggling ace Tim Stauffer.
It definitely provides the defending World Series champions some edge, but the Padres will not let the series go out of their hand so easily.
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