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Giants wrap set with Padres seeking to avoid sweep

Sep 21, 2014 - 2:27 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Getting swept by the San Diego Padres wasn't what the San Francisco Giants had in mind ahead of a big series to kick off next week.

The Giants hope to avoid said sweep on Sunday afternoon when they conclude a three-game set with the hosting San Diego Padres.

San Francisco was shut out in Friday's opener, then was edged 3-2 by San Diego on Saturday night. The Giants have now lost five of their last seven as they lead the Pittsburgh Pirates by one game for the first wild card spot in the National League.

They also sit 3 1/2 games back of Los Angeles for first place in the NL West and visit the Dodgers for a three-game set that begins on Monday.

Hunter Pence hit a solo homer and Yusmeiro Petit allowed all three runs -- two earned -- in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss last night.

"Sure, two tough losses this time of year," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "Come out and be ready to go tomorrow."

Andrew Cashner, meanwhile, led the Padres on the mound and at the plate. Coming off a two-hit shutout, Cashner held the Giants to a pair of runs and four hits over eight-plus innings while also reaching base in all three of his at-bats. He notched a triple, single and a walk.

"I thought he was throwing the ball extremely well all night," Padres manager Bud Black said of Cashner. "He hadn't really been stressed."

Rene Rivera doubled twice and drove in two runs for San Diego, which has won three straight games.

Ryan Vogelsong will try to salvage the finale for the Giants as he lost his second straight decision on Monday with a 6-2 setback to Arizona.

The 37-year-old righty blanked the Diamondbacks for 6 2/3 innings in a no- decision on Sept. 10, but the club got to him for four runs on six hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings five days later.

All four runs Vogelsong allowed came on a grand slam by Mark Trumbo in the third inning, dropping the hurler to 8-11 on the year with a 3.98 earned run average.

"I should have made a better pitch to Trumbo," Vogelsong said. "(It was a cutter) that didn't do anything. It just sat there."

Vogelsong is 4-4 with a 5.63 ERA in 16 career meetings (8 starts) versus the Padres, who he has not faced this season.

Ian Kennedy starts for the Padres and avoided a third straight loss when he beat Philadelphia 5-4 on Tuesday. The righty yielded three runs on three hits, two of those homers, and four walks over six innings, striking out seven.

"I felt better than what the line score looked liked," Kennedy said after improving to 11-13 with a 3.80 ERA.

Kennedy is 7-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 18 career starts versus the Giants.

The Giants and Padres split 12 meetings this season coming into this series and conclude the regular season against each other with four games in San Francisco from Sept. 25-28.