San Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – The Padres and Giants played another 1-0
contest on Friday, only this time San Diego came away victorious on Wil Myers’
game-winning double in the eighth inning.
San Francisco outlasted its NL West rival by the same score in the opener of
this four-game series, and its pitching staff was riding a 22-inning scoreless
streak before San Diego finally broke through in the eighth.
Clint Barmes worked a pinch-hit walk against Jeremy Affeldt (0-1) with one
away, then lumbered home as Myers’ drive to deep right caromed off the wall. A
good throw home would have nabbed Barmes at the plate, but the relay went up
the third-base line and skipped past Hector Sanchez.
Joaquin Benoit (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth to earn the win, while Craig
Kimbrel worked around a one-out single to earn his first save in a Padres
uniform.
Brandon Morrow had a terrific Padres debut but wound up with a no-decision. He
struck out seven and scattered four hits and three walks over seven frames.
Tim Lincecum matched Morrow’s stat line almost identically save for two fewer
strikeouts.
The only serious threat the Giants mustered against Morrow came in the seventh
when Angel Pagan and Buster Posey both walked to open the inning. Morrow
struck out Brandon Crawford on three pitches and induced a double-play ball
off the bat of Casey McGehee to keep it 0-0.
Game Notes
The Giants have plated two runs or fewer in eight of their last 11 games at
Petco Park … Lincecum has won his last seven decisions against the Padres
and no-hit them in each of the last two seasons … The teams combined to go
hitless in nine chances with runners in scoring position.