Samardzija, Giants shut down Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Jeff Samardzija threw seven scoreless innings and the San Francisco Giants scored twice in the eighth to beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Thursday night.
Samardzija (12-10) didn't have many stressful moments, surrendering four hits and tying a season high with nine strikeouts with zero walks.
San Francisco kept pace with the New York Mets for the National League wild-card lead. one-half game ahead of St. Louis.
Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence drove in San Francisco's runs.
Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his second save in two chances. Ryan Schimpf had a one-out double, but Hunter Renfroe and Carlos Asuaje stranded him.
Alex Dickerson's pinch-hit homer in the eighth pulled the Padres to within 2-1.
The Giants got a break in the game-turning eighth, when Renfroe had Joe Panik's drive in the right-center gap glance off his glove. Panik collected a ground-rule double as he snapped a 0-for-24 skid.
Pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson singled Panik to third and he scored when Pagan parachuted a single in short right field. Pence followed with an RBI double.
Christian Friedrich (5-11) was solid, especially considering he had won only once since June 29. He worked seven-plus innings, charged with two runs and three hits. He struck out six with three walks.
Austin Hedges' two-out single in the seventh was for naught when he was erased trying to steal.
The Padres' lineup was flooded with youth. Four players started who were summoned Wednesday from the Triple-A El Paso squad which won the Pacific Coast League title. Wil Myers was the lone position player Thursday that was in the Padres' opening day lineup.
San Diego had an opportunity in the sixth when Samardzija's throwing error on a dribbler up the third-base line allowed Friedrich to reach safely. Travis Jankowski followed with a single, putting two Padres aboard for the first time.
Samardzija hunkered down, getting Manuel Margot to pop up and fanning Myers and Schimpf to squash the rally.
Renfroe got his first major-league hit in the second before Samardzija retired eight in a row.
Renfroe had another single to open the fifth, but didn't advance past first. Asuaje flied out, preceding strikeouts by Hedges and Luis Sardinas.
Gorkys Hernandez stroked a one-out double in fourth off the top of the left-field fence, the Giants' only hit in the first five innings. Hernandez thought the ball exited the yard and was almost thrown out when cruising into second base. Brandon Belt flied out and Ehire Adrianza grounded out to strand Hernandez.
The Giants loaded the bases with three walks in the second but couldn't cash in. Samardzija struck out to end the inning.
NOTES: Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (groin) will try to throw Friday. Cueto was hurt Tuesday against the Dodgers and there's still a chance he could start on Sunday. ... SS Brandon Crawford (finger) has resumed throwing but there is no timetable for his return. ... Padres RHP Colin Rea (elbow) is playing catch as he tries to avoid Tommy John surgery. ... INF Yangervis Solarte will return soon after attending the funeral for his wife, Yuliette, 31, in Miami.