SAN FRANCISCO -- Phil Nevin was beginning to forget what hitting a home run felt like. It all came back to him with one swing.
Nevin hit his first home run of the season and Kevin Jarvis took a six-hitter into the eighth inning as the San Diego Padres stopped San Francisco's nine-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory over the Giants on Saturday night.
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| Rod Beck earns his 12th save in as many opportunities.(AP) |
Playing in his third game since coming off the disabled list, Nevin hit his first home run since Sept. 1, a two-run shot off Jerome Williams in the second inning. Nevin had been out since spring training, when he dislocated his shoulder.
Jarvis (4-2) won his fourth straight start, a streak that began when he beat the Giants in San Diego on July 5. He has not allowed a home run in his past 31 innings.
"They hit a couple of balls pretty hard but it was a pitcher's ballpark tonight with the wind," Jarvis said. "Lately I've been throwing all my pitches with pretty good command."
Barry Bonds went 1-for-2 with two walks after missing a game to be with his father. Bobby Bonds underwent open-heart surgery on Friday.
With two outs in the eighth, Jarvis gave up a double to Marquis Grissom and walked Bonds intentionally. Andres Galarraga then hit an RBI single to spoil the shutout.
But that was the only run San Francisco could manage against Jarvis, who allowed eight hits while striking out five and walking one. He beat the Giants for the first time in San Francisco and improved to 3-6 against them overall. He retired 10 in a row at one point.
"He had unbelievable command of all his pitches," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "When he throws his sinker like he did, he's going to be tough."
Rod Beck pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 12 opportunities.
Nevin and Mark Kotsay each had two hits for the Padres, who are 5-4 since the All-Star break. San Diego jumped ahead when Nevin followed Ryan Klesko's infield single with his homer on a 2-0 pitch.
"You can tell by the way he's swinging he's feeling healthy," Bochy said. "He's letting go, and he's not hesitant when he swings."
Williams (5-2) allowed his first home run in 64 2/3 innings. He lost for the first time since his major league debut on April 26, a span of 11 starts.
"I threw a bad pitch and he hit it good," Williams said.
Williams allowed seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks. After the home run he did not allow another runner past second base and retired the final seven batters he faced.
Giants right fielder Jose Cruz Jr. recorded his major league-leading 15th outfield assist when he doubled up Kotsay in the first inning. His 24 assists over the last two years is the most in the majors. The San Francisco single-season record is 17, by Jack Clark and Jeffrey Leonard in 1983 and Willie Mays in 1958.
Notes
- Nevin has hit safely in all three games since returning from the DL.
- Giants RHP Kurt Ainsworth, recovering from a broken right shoulder blade, threw lightly for the first time since May 31.
- Giants C Benito Santiago is expected to be activated from the DL when the Giants travel to play the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
- Giants 1B J.T. Snow was out of the lineup with a slight groin injury, and isn't expected to miss much time.
- Klesko extended his hitting streak to six games and is 8-for-18 during that stretch.
- The Giants recorded their 21st consecutive sellout of 42,521.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
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