Rich Aurilia's homer carries pitcher Tim Lincecum, Giants to 1-0 win over slumping Padres
By BERNIE WILSON | Associated Press | Apr 25, 08 12:37 AM CDT in
Sports
The San Diego Padres are struggling so badly that they allowed only four hits to the San Francisco Giants, and still lost.
Rich Aurilia homered off Chris Young in the seventh inning to keep Tim Lincecum perfect this season and give San Francisco a 1-0 win on Thursday night in another low-scoring game at Petco Park.
Young (1-2) allowed two hits in seven innings while striking out 10, but couldn't keep the Padres from tumbling into sole possession of last place in the NL West. The Padres have lost eight of nine and were swept in this two-game series.
Lincecum (4-0) extended his scoreless streak to 16 1-3 innings and lowered his ERA to 1.23. He allowed four hits in 6 1-3 innings, struck out nine and walked five. Brian Wilson pitched the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.
It was the second time in five meetings this season the Giants beat the Padres 1-0.
The Padres have scored five runs in 53 innings in their last four games at spacious Petco Park, including a 3-2, 13-inning loss to San Francisco on Wednesday night, and a 2-1, 22-inning loss to Colorado on April 17.
Aurilia homered to left field on a full-count pitch with one out in the seventh, his first of the season.
The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning against Lincecum and reliever Jack Taschner but failed to score after pinch-hitter Scott Hairston hit a pop foul and Adrian Gonzalez grounded out. The Padres stranded 11 runners.
The 6-foot-10 Young retired the first 10 batters before Eugenio Velez doubled down the right-field line in the fourth. Young walked three.
Notes:@ San Diego's Greg Maddux made his 10th career pinch-running appearance, coming in after pinch-hitter Tony Clark singled with one out in the seventh. Maddux's last pinch-running appearance was Aug. 5 against San Francisco. ... Padres C Michael Barrett, on the DL with a sprained right elbow, can swing a bat and catch in the bullpen but won't be cleared to throw for another seven-to-10 days, manager Bud Black said. ... Friday night's series opener between Arizona and the Padres features a rematch of the lefty starters from last Sunday, when San Diego's Randy Wolf beat Randy Johnson 9-4 in Phoenix.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.