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Garland has strong outing in Padres' win

Apr 22, 2010 - 3:01 AM SAN DIEGO(AP) -- Jon Garland finally gave the San Diego Padres what they were expecting.

Garland, the Padres' top offseason acquisition, won his first game by pitching seven strong innings to lead San Diego to a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

"It's nice to get that first win out of the way," he said.

Garland (1-2), who signed a one-year, $4.7 million contract, flashed the form that made the Padres name him as their opening-day starter.

"His secondary pitches were all very solid," Padres manager Bud Black said. "His change-up has improved over his last two starts. His velocity has picked up. When he needed something extra, he threw a sinker to get outs."

Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez added a solo home run as San Diego won its sixth straight game. San Francisco lost its fourth consecutive game and finished 1-5 on its road trip.

Garland (1-2) held the slumping Giants to one run and six hits as he pitched into the eighth before leaving after giving up consecutive singles leading off the inning.

Garland was solid as he allowed his only run when Juan Uribe led off the fifth inning with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Nate Schierholtz's ground out.

"He was getting outs early in the count," Black said. "I think he set a better pace."

The right-hander turned in his best outing in four starts with his longest stint of the season. Garland, who received only two runs in his first three starts, credited his change-up with his improved showing.

"It's just a matter of keeping it down, keeping everything down," he said. "In this park, it's what you want. It's a sign of executing pitches."

San Diego, which has beaten the Giants in 10 of 12 games at Petco Park, turned in three double plays, including two behind Garland.

Hundley hit a two-run home run, his second, off Dan Runzler to put the Padres ahead 4-1 in the fifth.

Todd Wellemeyer (0-3) had another rough start as he allowed two runs on three hits over four innings, including Gonzalez's solo homer in the first. Wellemeyer lost his career-high sixth straight decision.

"I just got a good swing on the ball and it carried," said Gonzalez. "If you get a good swing, you can get homers to right here."

Wellemeyer had a lack of control when he walked four consecutive batters in the second inning to give San Diego a 2-0 lead. He issued one-out walks to Oscar Salazar, Tony Gwynn, Garland and Everth Cabrera during which he threw just three strikes.

"I was just yanking it across my body," said Wellemeyer. "I got out of (the inning) and limited the damage. Unfortunately, I only got to go four innings."

Wellemeyer went just four innings for the second straight start. He has allowed five homers in his three starts and has an ERA of 8.16.

Pablo Sandoval hit a solo homer, his third, for the Giants in the ninth off Edward Mujica.

The Giants continue to struggle offensively, having scored just four runs in their four straight losses. The first three defeats were all by one run.

"It was a tough series for us, a tough road trip," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have to get these bats going."

NOTES: Padres 2B David Eckstein struck out for the first time in 51 plate appearances, the longest streak this season. ... A small rain storm delayed the start of the game by 18 minutes. ... When San Francisco held San Diego to one hit in losing 1-0 on Tuesday night, it was the first time a Giants team lost when its opponent had one hit since Sept. 22, 1917 at Pittsburgh, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... LHP Jonathan Sanchez, who pitched seven innings Tuesday and held San Diego to its only hit, became just the fourth Giants pitcher to lose a game while allowing one hit in at least seven innings, according to Elias. ... Gonzalez has hit 133 homers as a Padre to tie Ryan Klesko for fifth on the club's all-time list. ... Padres RHP Chris Young (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday at Cincinnati.