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Playoff-bound Giants hope to solve Padres' Cashner

Sep 25, 2014 - 8:12 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrew Cashner tries to shut down the San Francisco Giants for the second time in less than a week on Thursday when the San Diego Padres open a four-game series against them at AT&T Park.

Cashner held the Giants to just a pair of runs and four hits in eight-plus innings on Saturday to run his record to 5-7 to go along with a 2.21 ERA. He had tossed a two-hit shutout his previous time out.

Cashner retired 15 consecutive Giants from the fourth through the eighth before surrendering a Hunter Pence homer to lead off the ninth. He also walked, tripled and laid down a terrific bunt for a single.

"I told Darin [Balsley, Padres pitching coach] that if Cash was ever in the American League, he'd go crazy," Black said. "He enjoys pinch-running on the days he's not starting. He takes pride in his ability to be a complete player."

San Diego did its best to derail the Giants' postseason hopes last weekend, as it swept them in a three-game set, outscoring them, 16-4. San Francisco is still headed toward the postseason, though, and secured a spot earlier on Thursday when Milwaukee lost in Cincinnati.

San Francisco's slim NL West title hopes were dashed on Wednesday with a 9-1 loss to the great Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tim Hudson (9-13) was charged with three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The veteran gave up six runs and eight hits in one-plus inning of a 17-0 loss to the Dodgers on Sept. 13.

"Anytime you're going against a guy like Kershaw, you know runs are going to be at a premium," Hudson said. "Tonight was no exception. He went out there and pitched well."

San Francisco hasn't helped itself down the stretch here, losing five of six and eight of its 11. It is now a game back of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top wild card spot.

"It's tough when you're not getting runs on the board," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We've got to get these bats going. We're going to see some good pitching (against San Diego) so hopefully we can get this figured out."

The Giants will hand the ball to righty Yusmeiro Petit, who has lost his last two starts, including one to Cashner and the Padres on Saturday. Petit allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits in 5 1/3 innings to fall to 5-5 to go along with a 3.63 ERA.

Also the walk he allowed to Cashner ended a string of 70 consecutive batters of not even allowing a three-ball count.