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Giants finally beat Padres, 7-6 in 12 innings

May 19, 2010 - 7:32 AM SAN DIEGO(AP) -- Matt Downs and the San Francisco Giants finally found a way to beat San Diego.

Andres Torres hit a tying homer in the eighth inning and Downs had a two-run double in the 12th, sending the Giants to a 7-6 victory Tuesday night in a matchup of the NL West's top two teams.

It was San Francisco's first victory over the first-place Padres in eight games this season.

"It saves a little bit of sanity around here," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "I'm not going to lie. It's a little streak we were in. We fought and we were determined about the streak."

Brian Wilson gave up a two-run double to David Eckstein with two outs in the bottom of the 12th after Chris Denorfia and Yorvit Torrealba singled. Wilson intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez before striking out Chase Headley for his 10th save in 11 chances.

Thanks to their comeback, the Giants avoided tying a franchise record for the longest losing streak against one opponent to open a season.

"It was in everybody's head," Downs said. "Everybody was talking about it - the media, fans were talking about it. We didn't talk about it much, but everyone in here was aware of it."

The Giants totaled nine runs during their seven-game losing streak to San Diego, never scoring more than two in a game. But they broke out for 18 hits in this one and got the clutch hitting that had been missing against the Padres.

"It's a big pick-me-up," Downs said. "It gets the team fired up because we had to fight to get back in it after we had lost the lead."

Downs' third hit came off rookie Cesar Ramos (0-1) and scored pinch-hitter Ryan Rohlinger and Eli Whiteside, who reached on two-out singles. Eugenio Velez added an RBI single to make it 7-4.

Padres reliever Joe Thatcher, who entered in the 11th inning, got the first out of the 12th before leaving with tightness in his side and back. He was replaced by Ramos.

Dan Runzler (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

San Francisco won for only the third time in 13 games against the Padres. The Giants had dropped 11 of their previous 13 at Petco Park.

The Giants were six outs from another loss to San Diego when Torres hit a two-run homer off Mike Adams, tying it at 4 in the eighth inning.

"It felt great because we have been battling," Torres said. "It was a great feeling to come through there."

Torres' second home run, the first allowed by Adams this season in 18 1-3 innings, barely stayed fair down the right-field line. Aaron Rowand, who had three hits, was on base with a leadoff double.

"Rare bad outing for the 'pen," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "Over 162 games, guys aren't going to be invincible. Mike got a pitch up to Torres and he took advantage of it."

The Padres' bullpen came into the game with the NL's lowest ERA and the top mark in opponents' batting average.

San Diego's Mat Latos and Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez were matched up for the third time this season, although neither was as sharp as the first two outings.

The Padres won each of the previous two games by a 1-0 score with Latos getting the win both times, including Thursday at San Francisco when he pitched a one-hitter for his first career complete game. Sanchez took the loss in both games.

In the first meeting on April 20, Sanchez lost despite allowing just one hit in seven innings. It was the only hit San Diego had in the game.

This time, Latos allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings with five strikeouts. Sanchez gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out seven, hit a batter with a pitch and did not issue a walk.

San Francisco scored twice against Latos in the fourth, ending his scoreless innings streak at 21. Nate Schierholtz and Whiteside had RBI singles as the Giants got to Latos for the first time in 19 innings this season for a 2-0 lead.

It also was the first time the Padres trailed against San Francisco this season.

San Diego scored four runs in the fifth on four straight singles to open the inning, a wild pitch and Jerry Hairston Jr.'s two-run single with two outs.

NOTES: In his previous three starts, Latos was 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA. He had retired 55 of his last 58 batters. ... Giants INF Freddy Sanchez (left shoulder surgery), who has yet to play this season, is expected to be activated before Wednesday's game at Arizona.