Giants rookie center fielder Grant McCray almost single-handedly beat the Padres, hitting two home runs with five RBIs in San Francisco’s 6-3 win at Petco Park on Saturday night.
The Padres (81-63) jumped on starter Logan Webb in the first inning, opening up with back-to-back base hits on the sinker-throwing right-hander. Third baseman Manny Machado stayed hot by hitting an RBI base hit, followed by an RBI groundout from second baseman Xander Bogaerts.
The Giants (70-73) responded to the 2-0 deficit with a rally of their own in the following inning. After giving up a pair of base hits, McCray turned on an inside slider for a three-run home run to put San Francisco up 3-2.
After seeing two consecutive sliders from starting pitcher Dylan Cease, McCray (.262 BA, 863 OPS) knew what was coming, taking a third straight slider left up in the zone over the right field fence
Knowing that Cease (12-11, 3.71 ERA) relies heavily on his slider and fastball combination, the Giants offense seemed to be guessing right all night by first pitch swinging and getting plenty of hard contact.
Cease looked hesitant to pound the zone after the big second inning, pitching around batters and loading the bases with no outs in the fourth after giving up two walks and a base hit. An RBI ground out extended the Giants lead to 4-2.
Webb (12-9, 3.46 ERA) settled down after giving up two in the first and kept the Padres lineup on their heels, despite giving up 10 scattered hits.
Webb’s repertoire consists of pitches with spin and movement, especially his sinker and change-up. The Padres hit him well by hitting the ball where it was pitched, recognizing the high sinker and taking advantage of when Webb missed upstairs. San Diego couldn’t capitalize with runners on and left seven runners in scoring position.
The Padres came within one after a lead-off double by center fielder Tyler Wade in the fifth, followed by a sacrifice bunt and an RBI base hit from designated hitter Luis Arraez to cut the lead to 4-3.
Arraez (.313 BA, .731 OPS) led the way offensively, going 3 for 5 on the night. Machado and Wade both had two hits a piece for the Friars.
After Webb was removed in the seventh the Padres had trouble hitting the Giants bullpen. Hitters had a difficult time seeing the ball against sidearm reliever Tyler Rogers and flame-throwing reliever Camilo Doval.
McCray put San Diego to bed in the ninth inning, making reliever Yuki Matsui pay for going inside again for a two-run home run and his second of the night.
The Padres look to take the series in game three at 1:10 pm on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.