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 The San Francisco rookie dominated the Padres, and the Giants hit
three home runs while cruising to a 9-3 victory Tuesday night at
Petco Park.
Heston (10-5), who threw a no-hitter earlier this year, was
sensational through 7 1/3 innings. He allowed one hit, two walks and
hit a batter while striking out six.
"He was really throwing the ball well, good sinker, good movement on
his fastball," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Padres starter Odrisamer Despaigne (3-7) was lifted before recording
an out in the fifth. He was tagged for six runs on seven hits and
two walks.
The Padres didn't get a hit until center fielder Melvin Upton Jr.
opened the sixth inning with a broken-bat single to center field.
His flare landed just beyond second baseman Joe Panik's glove as the
barrel of the Upton's bat ended up wedged in the screen behind the
plate.
"He was on it," Padres interim manager Pat Murphy said of Heston.
"He made some great pitches, quality pitches."
Heston admitted he thought about another no-hitter.
"It creeps in your mind but you try not to think about that stuff
because quicker than not you're probably going to eventually give up
a hit," Heston said.
The victory snapped San Diego's season-high, five-game winning
streak and the Giants' four-game losing streak at Petco Park. San
Francisco has just five wins in its past 19 outings in San Diego.
Giants catcher Hector Sanchez stroked his second career grand slam
in the sixth inning off reliever Dale Thayer, extending the
visitors' advantage to 9-0. Sanchez's homer carried 428 feet deep
into the right field seats, and he admired it with a bat flip.
"It's good to break out and get some runs here," Bochy said. "The
long ball isn't something you don't expect here."
Thayer intentionally walked left fielder Gregor Blanco to load the
bases, setting the stage for Sanchez's blast. Right fielder Hunter
Pence and shortstop Brandon Crawford singled -- Crawford's third hit
of the night -- before Blanco walked.
The benches and bullpens emptied in the eighth after Sanchez
grounded out and exchanged words with reliever Shawn Kelley when
returning to the dugout. No one was ejected.
"The players handle those things," Murphy said. "There were words
exchanged."
The Padres scored three unearned runs in the ninth.
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Heston retired the first 11 batters he faced. Right fielder Matt
Kemp reached in the fourth after getting hit by a pitch in the left
arm, the only San Diego runner through five innings.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford extended the Giants' cushion to 5-0 in
the fourth when he hit a three-run homer off Despaigne. Crawford's
13th of the season came after third baseman Matt Duffy began the
inning with a double and first baseman Brandon Belt walked.
Pence slammed Despaigne's 77 mph curveball 434 feet for a solo home
run to open the second inning. Pence's fifth of the year gave the
Giants a 1-0 lead. Belt and Crawford followed with singles, and Belt
scored when left fielder Gregor Blanco hit into a double play.
"I think they hit the ball hard sometimes with two strikes,"
Despaigne said through a translator. "I hadn't pitched in 11 days
and it was 17 days since my last start and I think that was the
difference today."
Bochy was watching Heston stymie the Padres while thinking of Tim
Lincecum's first no-hitter, which came at Petco in 2013. Heston
threw 116 pitches before being pulled.
"That broken bat single there broke it up and that probably saved
me," Bochy said. "Because his pitch count was going to get up there
and I've been in that boat before here -- I let Timmy throw 148
(pitches)."
NOTES: Padres LF Justin Upton (oblique) was out of the lineup again
Tuesday. But the club said it expects him to play during the
homestand. ... San Diego RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder) could be sent
on a rehab assignment this weekend. ... Padres 2B Cory Spangenberg
(knee) took pregame ground balls. ... Padres OF Wil Myers could
start hitting later this week. ... Giants C Buster Posey did not
play because of a tight hamstring, but he is expected to start
Wednesday. ... Giants LHP Jeremy Affeldt (shoulder) threw a bullpen
session. He could be activated this week. ... Giants RHP Tim
Lincecum (arm, hips) won't throw for four days after receiving
cortisone shots in his hips Monday.
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