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Sandoval scores on wild pitch to lead Giants over Padres

Sep 15, 2008 - 1:13 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Pablo Sandoval scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning as the San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres, 8-6, in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday.

Sandoval doubled to lead off the inning against reliever Dirk Hayhurst (0-2), and advanced to third on a single by Travis Ishikawa. With Aaron Rowand batting, Hayhurst bounced ball four past catcher Nick Hundley and Sandoval beat the throw to the plate to put the Giants on top, 7-6.

Scott Patterson walked pinch hitter Rich Aurilia with the bases loaded to score Ishikawa with the game's final run.

"(Sandoval) is definitely talented," Hayhurst said. "Going into the game, I knew I'd be facing him. I know he can hit and know he's been hot lately. You've got to make your pitches and execute well to get a guy like him out."

Sergio Romo (2-1) worked a scoreless ninth to pick up the victory for the Giants, their third straight and ninth in their last 11 games.

Brian Wilson retired the side in the 10th to convert his 39th save in 44 chances and secure the win.

San Diego wasted a promising scoring chance in the eighth, failing to push a run across despite Will Venable's single and three walks by reliever Alex Hinshaw. After Venable's single, left fielder Randy Winn threw a one-hop strike to catcher Sandoval, who blocked Luis Rodriguez from touching home plate to keep the Padres scoreless in the inning.

"I have to make sure to block the plate so that run doesn't score," Sandoval said. "I kept my feet going and I blocked the plate. I like (home plate collisions). That's part of the game."

Three batters later, All-Star Adrian Gonzalez struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

"It just didn't happen today," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Hayhurst just ran into a hot hitter, and they pushed a couple of runs across."

After falling behind 6-2, the Giants tied the contest with a sixth-inning rally, opening the frame with five consecutive singles against reliever Cla Meredith, capped by Omar Vizquel's two-run single. Pinch hitter Dave Roberts followed with a sacrifice fly to even the score.

"We got down and they fought hard," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We made a good comeback.

"That game was won by the bullpen. They made the pitches when they had to."

San Diego starter Cha Seung Baek exited the game after just two innings due to a strained right triceps. The 28-year-old South Korean righthander allowed one run and two hits before his departure.

Edgar Gonzalez's two-run single in the second was the big blow in a four-run second as San Diego built a 4-1 bulge against San Francisco starter Barry Zito.

"I didn't feel good in that (second) inning," Zito said. "I felt really out of rhythm. I just seemed out of whack. I just want to put this behind me, and I'm really happy the team battled. They really picked me up today. It was awesome."

Zito allowed six runs - five earned - in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out one and issued five walks.

Venable had two hits in the game for the Padres, who have dropped five of six.