Giants blank Padres, complete three-game sweep
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Barry Zito tossed seven shutout innings as the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres with a 5-0 rout at AT&T Park.
Zito (3-1), who gave up nine runs in 2 2/3 innings last time out against Milwaukee, allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out four.
"You have to be resilient in this game. He had good command today and made his pitches," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Francisco has now won nine of its last 13.
Giants outfielder Angel Pagan had just one hit on the afternoon, but it plated two runs to break a 0-0 tie in the third inning. Pablo Sandoval and Andres Torres had two hits and a run scored apiece, while reigning National League MVP Buster Posey added his first home run of the season -- a two-run blast -- in the victory.
Eric Stults (2-2) gave up all five San Francisco runs while registering just two strikeouts in seven innings. Everth Cabrera and Nick Hundley each had two hits for San Diego.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pagan came up to bat in the third with Torres and Brandon Crawford on second and third following a Zito sacrifice. He worked the count to 3-0 and was given the green light, which he took advantage of by doubling to center field to bring home both runners.
"I felt like I was making good pitches," Stults said. "Before you know it, it's first and third and I fall behind Pagan 3-0."
Sandoval knocked in Pagan later in the inning to put San Francisco ahead, 3-0.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Sandoval legged out an infield single to bring Posey to the dish. The All-Star catcher wasted no time taking Stults' first-pitch breaking ball out of the park in left-center field for the game's final runs.
The Padres managed multiple baserunners in an inning just once, when Will Venable drew a walk following a Hundley single in the second.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chad Gaudin pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Giants ... San Francisco pitchers have now thrown 21 consecutive scoreless innings ... Padres pitchers combined for just two strikeouts.