Bumgarner goes distance as Giants top Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Madison Bumgarner went the distance, and Brandon Crawford drove in five runs as the surging San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Tuesday night.
It was the first-place Giants' season-high sixth consecutive win and its 11th victory in 15 games.
San Francisco also continued its domination of the Padres. The Giants have beaten San Diego in all four meetings this season and in 12 of the last 15 contests.
Bumgarner (5-2) has been just as effective against the Padres, going 4-0 over six starts dating to the start of last year.
Crawford's offensive output was more than enough to fuel Bumgarner to his fourth win in five outings. Bumgarner surrendered a run on five hits. He struck out a season-high 11 with no walks in his 108 pitches.
Colin Rea (3-2), who took a no-hitter into the eighth during his last Petco Park start, was through after five innings. He was charged with three runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Giants struck first in the second inning, seizing a 3-0 lead.
Crawford pounced on Rea's 3-0 offering, smashing his 91 mph two-seam fastball 432 feet over the center field fence for a three-run homer. Crawford's fifth home run of the season chased in Brandon Belt and Hunter Pence. Crawford had just one RBI in his previous seven games before redirecting Rea's pitch.
Belt opened the inning with a double, followed by Pence's sharp single. For Belt, it was the 24th consecutive game in which he reached safely, which tied a career high.
Crawford hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, and he added his final RBI in the eighth when his double sent home Pence.
The Padres had a chance to get back in the game in the sixth, with Brett Wallace and Wil Myers in scoring position with one out and the heart of the order coming up. However, Bumgarner, who threw his 11th career complete game, wiggled from the jam by striking out Derek Norris and getting Matt Kemp on a popup, with first baseman Belt making a nifty over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory.
The Padres lost for the third time in four games and came within three outs of being blanked for the 10th outing this season. Kemp's 10th home run on an 0-2 pitch in the ninth denied Bumgarner of his sixth career shutout.
NOTES: Padres CF Jon Jay (shoulder) was idle and manager Andy Green said Jay is a candidate for the disabled list. With Jay missing, Wil Myers batted leadoff for the second time this year ... LHP Robbie Erlin underwent season-ending elbow surgery. ... Giants RHP George Kontos was activated off the disabled list. ... RHP Clayton Blackburn was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. ... RHP Sergio Romo (elbow) threw 23 pitches in an extended spring outing and he's expected to throw again on Friday.