SAN DIEGO — For the first time in two weeks, the Giants hit the magical four-run mark. That's usually enough for this pitching staff, and four was plenty with rookie pitcher Andrew Suarez dealing.
The longest start of Suarez's career gave the Giants a 4-2 win over the Padres, a positive start to their final trip, and a third handshake line in four days.
Suarez had a low pitch count all night, and he quickly shook off a long Austin Hedges homer in the second. He was at just 77 pitches through seven and needed just 87 to reach a career-high 7 2/3 innings. The rookie did not appear pleased that he was pulled, but he had a chat with manager Bruce Bochy in the dugout and all seemed fine. The Padres got one run back right away, but Tony Watson got out of the eighth and Will Smith closed it out.
Here's what else you need to know...
—- Suarez’s final line: 7 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts. He has a 2.70 ERA over his last five starts.
—- Chris Shaw had his first multi-hit game on Sunday. A day later, he had his first three-hit game. Shaw singled to left in the second and then smoked a double down the left field line in the fourth. In his final at-bat, he pulled a double to right. Shaw has raised his average from .045 to .207 in two days.
—- It was a big night for the left side of the infield. Brandon Crawford hit a moonshot to right-center to pick up his third homer of the second half. Evan Longoria smacked one off the Western Metal Supply Co. building in the fifth to give the Giants a 4-1 lead. The homer was Longoria’s 16th, putting him in sole possession of the team lead.
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—- The Giants improved to 50-17 when they score four runs. They should try it more often.
