San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Justin Maxwell came on as a pinch-hitter
in the 12th inning and plated the game’s only with an RBI single as the San
Francisco Giants escaped with a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres in the
opener of a four-game series on Thursday.
An error by shortstop Clint Barmes on a Brandon Crawford grounder and an
intentional walk to Gregor Blanco put two on with two outs for Maxwell,
who delivered a single to center field off Nick Vincent (0-1).
Vincent stranded runners on the corners to end the top of the 12th, but
Santiago Casilla retired the side in order in the home half to pick up the
save, his third of the season.
George Kontos (1-0) struck out two in 1 2/3 innings for San Francisco.
“This one could have went either way,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “The
pitching on both sides was outstanding.”
The loss overshadowed a terrific stint in long relief by Odrisamer Despaigne,
who came on for Padres starter Ian Kennedy in the third inning and tossed 4
2/3 perfect innings. Kennedy left after allowing two hits and two walks in 2
1/3 innings with a left hamstring strain.
“The whole time I felt something wasn’t right,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t feel a
pop or anything, I just wasn’t going to hurt my arm trying to change my
mechanics.”
Tim Hudson wasn’t as sharp in his season debut for San Francisco, allowing
five hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings, though the Padres couldn’t put any
runs across.
The Padres nearly broke through in the fifth inning, when Will Middlebrooks
and Yonder Alonso slapped consecutive singles to start the frame. But Jedd
Gyorko grounded into a double play and Despaigne only mustered a weak grounder
back to Hudson to end it.
In the sixth, Wil Myers led off with an infield single and Matt Kemp walked
two batters later. Then with two down and Myers on third, Middlebrooks popped
out to right.
San Diego chased Hudson from the game in the home seventh, but still couldn’t
plate any runs. Alonso led off with a walk and Alexi Amarista singled to put
runners on the corners with one out. Jeremy Affeldt came on to pitch to
pinch-hitter Yangervis Solarte, who grounded into a double play.
After the newest Padre Craig Kimbrel pitched around a leadoff triple to Angel
Pagan in the top of the ninth, San Diego stranded two in the bottom half to
force extras.
Game Notes
Blanco was the only player in the game with two hits … The Padres went 6-3
at Petco Park against San Francisco last season … San Diego went 1-for-11
with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base. The Giants went 1-for-9
with eight left.
