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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Manager Dusty Baker noticed a determined look
on Mark Gardner's face before the game.
Gardner went out and put on a performance to match his game
face, holding San Diego to five hits in seven scoreless innings as
the San Francisco Giants beat the Padres 3-0 Monday night.
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| Gardner |
"It's time to be determined," said Gardner, who's been in and
out of the Giants' rotation this year, and took the spot of Russ
Ortiz starting the second half. "We're close. Coming off this road
trip, we've got two months left. If we take our sweet time about
getting determined, then I think we can fall a significant number
of games behind and it will be too late."
The Giants pulled within one game of NL West-leading Arizona,
which was idle. The Giants started out 6-12 against NL West rivals,
but have caught up at 15-15.
While Gardner was on, the Giants took advantage of Brian
Meadows' first-inning control problems, scoring three runs on three
walks and three singles.
Gardner (7-4) has won five of his last six starts. He was coming
off a no-decision in a 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Padres at San
Francisco last Wednesday night.
"You could tell he was ready," Baker said. "He was ready from
the opening pitch. He threw a heck of a ballgame."
Gardner struck out eight and walked one. After allowing Ryan
Klesko's two-out single in the first, he retired nine straight.
"I think that's the key for both starting pitchers was getting
your location, your spots down, and cruising from there," Gardner
said. "He (Meadows) had a little trouble early, was erratic, and
we got three runs off the bat. I happened to settle in real quick
and hit those spots in and out. Other than that he threw a heck of
a ballgame, too. He battled into the seventh inning also. We were
fortunate to get that lead."
Robb Nen got the final three outs for his 23rd save in 28
chances.
Meadows (7-8) pitched eight strong innings against the Giants
last Wednesday, but lost his third straight decision because of his
inability to throw strikes in the first inning.
With one out, Meadows loaded the bases on two singles and a
walk. He then issued consecutive walks to Ellis Burks and J.T. Snow
to force in the first two runs, followed by a two-out single to
Doug Mirabelli. Meadows had 1-2 counts against both Burks and Snow.
"The walks killed me in the first," Meadows said. "It was
unfortunate that I put us in a hole to begin with. It was a hole we
couldn't get out of."
Meadows said they were close pitches, but added: "I knew I
wasn't going to get the close calls because I was erratic."
Meadows allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings, struck
out four and walked four.
The closest the Padres came to scoring was when Bret Boone hit a
two-out triple in the sixth, and replays showed that it should have
been a home run. The ball hit a concrete support post behind the
fence and bounced back in off the top of the fence.
Game notes
Giants 3B Bill Mueller reached over a few fans to catch
Klesko's foul pop in the sixth. ... The Giants are on the second
stop of a 12-game, four-city trip that started in Los Angeles and
will continue in Chicago and Milwaukee. ... Klesko shared NL Player
of the Week honors with Colorado's Todd Helton. Each player batted
.419 (13-for-31) for the week. Klesko led the NL with 11 RBI and
five doubles, hit two homers, scored four runs, had 24 total bases
and compiled a .774 slugging percentage. He also drove in seven
runs against the Rockies, helping the Padres win two of three at
Coors Field. On Sunday, he hit a tying solo homer in the ninth and
a game-winning, two-run shot in the 10th. ... Padres leadoff hitter
Eric Owens missed his second straight start due to a deep bruise at
the base of his right thumb. He doubled as a pinch-hitter for Kory
DeHaan in the eighth and remained in the game in right field.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
San Francisco Clubhouse
San Diego Clubhouse
RECAPS
Arizona -1
Cleveland -1
Minnesota 4
Boston 2
Tampa Bay 4
Detroit 2
NY Yankees 4
Baltimore 3
Chi. White Sox 7
Kansas City 6
Anaheim 6
Texas 5
Seattle 6
Oakland 4
Houston 7
Cincinnati 5
Los Angeles 4
Colorado 1
San Francisco 3
San Diego 0
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