Matt Cain had his third strong outing in three appearances this season and Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer to lift the San Francisco Giants to their third straight victory, 5-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Cain (2-0) allowed one run on four hits in six innings -- plus two batters. The right-hander, coming off a superb postseason, threw six scoreless innings, then gave up a popup double down the right field line to Stephen Drew and hit Melvin Mora to end his night in the seventh. Drew later scored, just the third run charged to Cain in 19-plus innings this season.
Sandoval's third homer of the year, off Daniel Hudson in the first inning, provided all the offense the Giants needed. Sandoval also walked and scored on the first of Miguel Tejada's two doubles.
Hudson (0-3) matched his career best with 10 strikeouts but allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits and three walks in six innings.
Brian Wilson came on with runners at first and second and two outs in the ninth. He gave up an RBI single to Willie Bloomquist before getting slumping Kelly Johnson to pop out for his third save in four tries.
With one out in the first, Freddy Sanchez singled off the glove of third baseman Melvin Mora, then Buster Posey singled up the middle to bring up Sandoval. With two outs, on a 1-0 pitch, the still big -- but not as big as before after an offseason conditioning program -- Sandoval hit a towering shot over the swimming pool in right field to put the Giants up 3-0.
San Francisco added one in the fourth when Sandoval drew a leadoff walk, Brandon Belt singled and Tejada doubled down the left field line. Cain followed with a low liner to right fielder Justin Upton, who made the catch and threw home as Belt was held at third. Upton had two singles off Cain.
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The Giants scored an unearned run in the fifth. After Aubrey Huff walked and Posey singled, San Francisco went with a double-steal. Catcher Miguel Montero threw wild to third allowing a runner to score and make it 5-0.
