SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The work Emmanuel Burriss has done on his swing appears to be paying off.
Burriss had two of his three singles in a nine-run sixth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 12-4 Saturday.
Burriss is tied for the major league lead with 22 hits this spring and is making a strong push to win the Giants' starting second base job in a competition with Kevin Frandsen.
"It's been a long process. I was working the whole offseason," said Burriss, hitting .415 with six RBI. "I'm trying to make sure I have a good approach when I step up to the plate.
"It's kind of hard to call it a competition. We're both competitive guys, but not between us. We're trying to get a ring for this organization," Burris added. "That's why we keep pushing ourselves."
Pablo Sandoval and Fred Lewis also had two hits apiece in the sixth inning, when the Giants got 11 hits and sent 14 batters to the plate.
Sandoval was playing in his first game since being struck in the mouth by a grounder that took a bad-hop in the fifth inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Sandoval had a chipped tooth repaired Thursday.
Bengie Molina and Jesus Guzman also had two-run singles in the Giants' sixth.
Frandsen had two hits, including a double, and raised his spring average to .315.
"He [Burriss] is hitting it well and playing good defense. He and Franny both," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. He's a smart player. I like the way he has responded to the competition."
San Diego second baseman David Eckstein had three singles, and Kevin Kouzmanoff had two hits, including his fourth double of the spring.
Giants starter Joe Martinez gave up two runs in four innings. The Padres scored two runs in the first on a bunt single, two infield singles, a walk and two sacrifice flies.
San Diego starter Walter Silva, in competition for the final spot in the Padres' rotation, gave up one run in four innings. He allowed two singles and a walk.
"So far, he's been very good," San Diego manager Bud Black said.
