Padres 3, Giants 2: Friars steal Cain’s thunder

Today was supposed to belong to Matt Cain, and for five innings, it did. The retiring Giant shut down the Padres, going twice through the lineup without allowing a run. The San Francisco bullpen was another story, giving up not one but two leads as they handed the Friars a win in the ninth inning. Jhoulys Chacin stood tall against the man of the hour, holding the Giants to one run on five hits over six frames. He didn’t get a W for that effort, but Wil Myers kept him out of the L column with his 30th homer (the first Friar to do so since Chase Headley in 2012) and Austin Hedges secured the win for Buddy Baumann with a two-run double.

Chacin’s lone run came in the second, and only some luck kept the inning from being even worse. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases before a single out was recorded, putting Jhoulys in a jam. Fortunately, Matt Cain wasn’t retiring with prowess at the plate, as he struck out on three pitches. Hunter Pence grounded to third for the second out, but the Padres couldn’t turn two and a run scored. A walk to Joe Panik loaded the bases again. Thankfully, Denard Span flew out to end the threat.

Wil tied things up in the sixth when he sent a hanging slider from Reyes Moronta ten rows into left field.

Craig Stammen hit a small snag in the seventh, giving up a leadoff walk to Ryder Jones. A bunt put him in scoring position, and he came around courtesy of a Pence RBI single.

The score stood at 2-1 until the ninth inning. With one out, Christian Villanueva hit a grounder to Brandon Crawford, who airmailed the throw and allowed the young third baseman to reach second. A Cory Spangenberg single put runners on the corners for Hedges, who laced a double over Pence’s head for the win.

Brad Hand put down the Giants in order and forced a rubber match for tomorrow’s season ender. First pitch at 12:05 PM.