Error proves costly in Padres' loss vs. Giants

Error proves costly in Padres' loss vs. Giants

Published Jun. 6, 2012 6:36 p.m. ET

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Nick Hundley and the San Diego Padres are having a hard time coming up with a big hit.

Hundley stranded five runners, three in scoring position, and the Padres lost 6-5 to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Gregor Blanco homered and Madison Bumgarner pitched six innings for San Francisco, which has won eight of 10 overall and 14 of its last 19 against the Padres, who have the worst record in the majors.

Bumgarner (7-4) won his second straight start while Clayton Richard (2-7) lost for the second time in four starts. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his third save in three chances.

Trailing 6-3, the Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but scored only one run. Carlos Quentin and Jesus Guzman singled and Logan Forsythe walked before Bumgarner struck out Hundley, allowed Everth Cabrera's run-scoring groundout and then got pinch-hitter Yonder Alonso to foul out to third.

"We had a couple of chances but couldn't get the big hit," manager Bud Black said. "We just need a little bit more production at the bottom of the lineup. It's got to come from everyone. It can't be one or two guys."

The Padres were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Hundley is hitting just .164 overall.

"It might look like he's pressing, working to get the job done," Black said. "He's very aggressive. A lot of times that can get in the way."

Said Hundley: "Oh man, it's a battle. It's a mental grind. It's something that I battle back and forth with every pitch, every inning. I need to do a better job to control my thoughts, to control my emotions and somehow find a way to play better."

The Padres pulled to 6-5 in the seventh when Chris Denorfia hit a leadoff triple off Clay Hensley and scored on Chase Headley's groundout. They had a runner on third with two outs in the eighth before Javier Lopez relieved Hensley and got pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay to ground out.

Bumgarner allowed four runs and seven hits, struck out four and walked four.

Richard went 5 2-3 innings, allowing six runs -- four earned -- and matching his season high by allowing 10 hits.

The Giants jumped on Richard for three runs and five hits in the first inning. Blanco and Ryan Theriot opened with singles and Melky Cabrera bounced a double over the fence in left to bring in Blanco. Buster Posey followed with a sacrifice fly and Cabrera scored on a passed ball.

San Diego pulled to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning with three extra-base hits off Bumgarner. Denorfia hit a leadoff double to right and scored on Headley's double to right. After Headley was thrown out at third trying to advance on Carlos Quentin's grounder to shortstop, Jesus Guzman tripled over right fielder Blanco's head to bring in Quentin.

Blanco homered to right leading off the fifth, his second. But Cameron Maybin connected in the bottom half, hitting a drive to left-center for his second homer.

The Giants scored two runs in the sixth on second baseman Forsythe's two-base fielding error. With runners on second and third with two outs, Forsythe charged Blanco's grounder but it went under his glove. Joaquin Arias and Brandon Crawford hustled to home to give San Francisco a 6-3 advantage.

NOTES: Olympic marathoner Meb Keflezighi of San Diego threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Keflezighi, who won the Rock `n' Roll Half Marathon on Sunday, was the Olympic silver medalist in 2004 and won the U.S. Olympic trials earlier this year. ... The Padres will promote Jason Marquis on Thursday in time to start the series finale against the Giants. He was signed to a minor league deal on May 29. He was released by the Twins earlier in May. The Giants will counter with Matt Cain.

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