SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have declined their $5 million mutual option for 2012 for right-hander Aaron Harang, as well as a mutual option for infielder-outfielder Brad Hawpe and a club option for right-handed reliever Chad Qualls.

Harang was 14-7 with a career-best 3.64 ERA for his hometown Padres.

Hawpe, who replaced Adrian Gonzalez at first base, played in 62 games, with 50 starts, before going on the disabled list June 21 and missing the remainder of the season after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left elbow on Aug. 5.

Qualls led the Padres with 77 relief appearances, going 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Beltran, Cody Ross and Pablo Sandoval homered in a rare show of power at AT&T Park, and the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Monday night.

Ross also singled, doubled and scored three times to back a solid outing by rookie Eric Surkamp.

The setting was a lot different than a year ago at this time when these teams battled for the NL West title in a race that went down to the final day of the regular season.

The Giants still harbor slim postseason hopes this year — they began the night 8 1/2 games behind division-leading Arizona — while the Padres are just finishing out the string.

San Francisco, the majors’ lowest-scoring team since the All-Star break, put up eight runs for the second straight game. It’s the first time the Giants have done that in back-to-back games since the first two games of the 2010 World Series.

Most of the offense came from San Francisco’s big three of Beltran, Ross and Sandoval.

Beltran went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs, Ross added a pair of RBIs and Sandoval capped the night with a towering, three-run homer in the seventh.

It’s the first time the Giants have hit three home runs in a game at their waterfront ballpark since Sept. 30, 2010.

Surkamp (2-0) pitched 5 2-3 innings for his second major league victory — both coming against San Diego. The left-hander, who beat the Padres on Sept. 6, allowed seven hits and walked one.

That might be enough to keep the 24-year-old in the Giants’ rotation. Barry Zito, who has two years remaining on the $126 million deal he signed before the 2007 season, came off the disabled list Sunday but will most likely work out of the bullpen unless one of the other starters gets hurt.

One day after scoring eight runs in a win over the Dodgers — the most runs by the Giants in more than a month — the defending World Series champs matched it against the Padres.

Beltran provided early offense when he snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a two-run shot off Aaron Harang in the first. The ball easily cleared the wall in right field, bounced on the cement landing and fell into McCovey Cove.

It was Beltran’s 18th home run of the season and third since being traded from the Mets to San Francisco on July 28.

Ross homered leading off the third, then added an RBI single in the seventh. Sandoval put the game out of reach with his three-run drive off reliever Andrew Carpenter.

Harang (13-6), who was 4-0 in six previous starts against the Giants, left after the fifth. He allowed six hits and struck out four.

San Diego, which fell to 1-4 on its seven-game road trip, scored a run in the fourth with the help of Surkamp’s throwing error, then added two more in the sixth on four consecutive two-out singles to chase the San Francisco rookie.

Kyle Banks knocked in one run and Orlando Hudson singled in Chris Denorfia to cut the lead to 4-3.

San Diego put two runners on in the eighth but failed to score.

Sergio Romo, the fifth San Francisco pitcher, got Hudson to hit into an inning-ending double play, then retired the side in the ninth.

NOTES: Giants closer Brian Wilson threw 19 pitches while facing hitters for the first time since going on the disabled list three weeks ago. Wilson will rest the next two days before the team decides what his next step will be. … C Buster Posey (ankle) played catch before the game and will head to Arizona to start his next phase of rehab. … OF Will Venable also played catch during batting practice to test his shoulder and could return to San Diego’s lineup Tuesday. … Padres manager Bud Black hinted that prized prospect Anthony Rizzo could get into the starting lineup in the next few days. … Black said an ineffective slider is to blame for reliever Luke Gregerson’s dip in strikeouts this year. Gregerson set a major league record for holds in 2010 and averaged 10.2 strikeouts over nine innings but that number has dipped to 5.6 this year. … RHP Matt Cain, who lost to San Diego in his last outing despite giving up two runs in seven innings, pitches for San Francisco on Tuesday. Cain (11-10) has won only twice in his previous eight starts. … LHP Cory Luebke (5-9), who has dropped his last three starts, goes for the Padres.

SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Beltran, Cody Ross and Pablo Sandoval homered in a rare show of power at AT&T Park, and the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 8-3 on Monday night.

Ross also singled, doubled and scored three times to back a solid outing by rookie Eric Surkamp.

The setting was a lot different than a year ago at this time when these teams battled for the NL West title in a race that went down to the final day of the regular season.

The Giants still harbor slim postseason hopes this year — they began the night 8 1/2 games behind division-leading Arizona — while the Padres are just finishing out the string.

San Francisco, the majors’ lowest-scoring team since the All-Star break, put up eight runs for the second straight game. It’s the first time the Giants have done that in back-to-back games since the first two games of the 2010 World Series.

Most of the offense came from San Francisco’s big three of Beltran, Ross and Sandoval.

Beltran went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs, Ross added a pair of RBIs and Sandoval capped the night with a towering, three-run homer in the seventh.

It’s the first time the Giants have hit three home runs in a game at their waterfront ballpark since Sept. 30, 2010.

Surkamp (2-0) pitched 5 2-3 innings for his second major league victory — both coming against San Diego. The left-hander, who beat the Padres on Sept. 6, allowed seven hits and walked one.

That might be enough to keep the 24-year-old in the Giants’ rotation. Barry Zito, who has two years remaining on the $126 million deal he signed before the 2007 season, came off the disabled list Sunday but will most likely work out of the bullpen unless one of the other starters gets hurt.

One day after scoring eight runs in a win over the Dodgers — the most runs by the Giants in more than a month — the defending World Series champs matched it against the Padres.

Beltran provided early offense when he snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a two-run shot off Aaron Harang in the first. The ball easily cleared the wall in right field, bounced on the cement landing and fell into McCovey Cove.

It was Beltran’s 18th home run of the season and third since being traded from the Mets to San Francisco on July 28.

Ross homered leading off the third, then added an RBI single in the seventh. Sandoval put the game out of reach with his three-run drive off reliever Andrew Carpenter.

Harang (13-6), who was 4-0 in six previous starts against the Giants, left after the fifth. He allowed six hits and struck out four.

San Diego, which fell to 1-4 on its seven-game road trip, scored a run in the fourth with the help of Surkamp’s throwing error, then added two more in the sixth on four consecutive two-out singles to chase the San Francisco rookie.

Kyle Banks knocked in one run and Orlando Hudson singled in Chris Denorfia to cut the lead to 4-3.

San Diego put two runners on in the eighth but failed to score.

Sergio Romo, the fifth San Francisco pitcher, got Hudson to hit into an inning-ending double play, then retired the side in the ninth.

NOTES: Giants closer Brian Wilson threw 19 pitches while facing hitters for the first time since going on the disabled list three weeks ago. Wilson will rest the next two days before the team decides what his next step will be. … C Buster Posey (ankle) played catch before the game and will head to Arizona to start his next phase of rehab. … OF Will Venable also played catch during batting practice to test his shoulder and could return to San Diego’s lineup Tuesday. … Padres manager Bud Black hinted that prized prospect Anthony Rizzo could get into the starting lineup in the next few days. … Black said an ineffective slider is to blame for reliever Luke Gregerson’s dip in strikeouts this year. Gregerson set a major league record for holds in 2010 and averaged 10.2 strikeouts over nine innings but that number has dipped to 5.6 this year. … RHP Matt Cain, who lost to San Diego in his last outing despite giving up two runs in seven innings, pitches for San Francisco on Tuesday. Cain (11-10) has won only twice in his previous eight starts. … LHP Cory Luebke (5-9), who has dropped his last three starts, goes for the Padres.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. —
Padres 7, Giants 5

Alberto Gonzalez hit a go-ahead single in the ninth inning, Kyle Blanks had a two-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 7-5 on Tuesday night for their season-best fifth straight victory.

Nick Hundley doubled against Ramon Ramirez (2-2) to start the ninth, then Logan Forsythe sacrificed him to third before Gonzalez singled up the middle. Will Venable followed with a run-scoring single.

Erik Hamren (1-0) retired pinch-hitter Miguel Tejada on a lineout to end the Giants’ three-run eighth for his first major league win. Heath Bell finished for his 35th save in 39 opportunities.

The reigning World Series champion Giants fell two games behind the first-place Diamondbacks in the NL West after Arizona won at Washington.

Mat Latos didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, but the Padres’ bullpen couldn’t hold a three-run lead.

Recent call-up Hector Sanchez singled in the eighth for his first major league hit and RBI, then Orlando Cabrera followed with a tying RBI single that chased Luke Gregerson.

But pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran popped out to end the eighth a few hours after he was activated from the disabled list. He received a roaring ovation from the sellout crowd of 41,288 when he stepped into the batter’s box.

Jesus Guzman and Cameron Maybin each hit an RBI single for the Padres, who kicked off an eight-game road trip and a stretch with 30 straight games against division foes.

Blanks’ second-inning drive was the first home run allowed by Matt Cain in 13 starts since June 14 at Arizona.

The Giants, back in their ballpark by the bay for a season-long 12-game homestand, also hurt their cause with three errors. San Diego overcame two blunders of its own.

Chris Stewart broke up Latos’ no-hit bid with a bloop single to center leading off the fifth.

Latos allowed only Cody Ross’ two-out walk in the second before running into trouble in the fourth. The right-hander retired the first two batters, then walked the bases loaded for Aaron Rowand, but he grounded out. Ross hit an RBI double in the eighth.

After Maybin’s third-inning RBI single, Cain retired the next 10 batters in order before giving up a leadoff single to Orlando Hudson in the seventh.

Hudson fouled a ball off his right foot in the eighth and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. He walked it off and drew a walk on the next pitch from Steve Edlefsen.

The Giants scored two in the sixth, getting a break on Guzman’s gaffe at first base. Guzman fielded Brandon Belt’s sharp grounder, held onto the ball trying to freeze the runner and then opted to throw home rather than make the routine out at first. His throw was wild and well up the third-base line for a two-run error.

Cain was charged with an error when he apparently missed the bag while covering first on Hudson’s grounder leading off the second. Blanks then homered on an 0-2 pitch.

The three errors matched San Francisco’s season high and gave the Giants 92 on the season.

Things aren’t going well for the defending champs.

San Francisco placed five players on the disabled list during its recent 4-6 road trip and six others missed time with injuries.

The Giants added to that list Tuesday but also got some good news with Beltran’s return from a strained right hand and wrist. The switch-hitter hopes to start Wednesday night.

San Francisco put left-handed starter Jonathan Sanchez on the 15-day DL with a sprained left ankle. Outfielder Nate Schierholtz was in a walking boot for a broken bone in his right foot. There was no timeline for when he might play again.

There was another scare early when first baseman Aubrey Huff tried to chased down Guzman’s ball in foul territory and right fielder Ross charged in, slid low and took Huff down. Huff was slow getting up but stayed in the game.

NOTES: Blanks has hit safely in 14 of his last 18 games since Aug. 5 — getting six homers and 18 RBIs in that span. … Cain committed his third error of the season, matching the most of his career, also done in 2006. … Maybin, San Diego’s CF who wears No. 24 like Hall of Famer Willie Mays, got to meet the Say Hey Kid at his Bay Area home Tuesday. … The Giants committed only 73 errors in 2010. … RHP Tim Lincecum (11-10) pitches Wednesday night for the Giants looking for his third win in four starts this season vs. San Diego. He is 7-4 with a 2.16 ERA lifetime in 16 career starts against the Padres. … Tim Stauffer (8-9) takes the mound for San Diego looking to improve on his 3-5 road record.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Heath Bell and the San Diego Padres have good reason to feel confident with a late lead. That’s why Monday night’s meltdown was such a surprise.

Lucas Duda’s two-run single capped a three-run ninth against the all-star closer, and the banged-up New York Mets rallied past the Padres 9-8 in the opener of a four-game series.

Jason Bartlett’s bases-loaded double capped a four-run eighth that gave the Padres an 8-4 lead. But their normally reliable bullpen couldn’t hold it, and New York snapped San Diego’s four-game winning streak.

“Best in baseball,” manager Bud Black said about his relief corps. “It doesn’t happen, so it’s a rarity. But I think it just goes to show you that players aren’t invincible.”

Angel Pagan, Jason Bay and David Wright homered for the Mets, who started strong and finished with a flourish after putting their top two hitters on the disabled list.

Shortstop Jose Reyes is sidelined with a strained left hamstring, the same problem that landed the NL’s leading hitter on the disabled list for 16 days last month. Daniel Murphy, who filled in admirably for injured first baseman Ike Davis, is likely done for the season because of a left knee injury.

“We’re not conceding anything,” Wright said. “There are a lot of games left. Crazier things have happened.”

Bay’s homer was the 200th in his career. He’s the third Canadian-born player to reach that plateau.

Elsewhere in the NL it was: Atlanta 8 Florida 5; Colorado 10 Cincinnati 7; Houston 9 Arizona 1; Pittsburgh 5 San Francisco 1; and Philadelphia 5 Los Angeles 3.

At New York, Pagan moved up to Reyes’ spot at the top of the lineup and hit his third career leadoff homer.

Ruben Tejada, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, started at shortstop and made a tough defensive play in an important situation.

Duda, who had three hits, singled to start a two-run eighth against Chad Qualls. Bay walked and pinch-hitter Mike Baxter, just promoted from triple-A Buffalo, delivered an RBI double when left fielder Kyle Blanks misplayed the deep drive, letting it glance off his glove.

“One hundred per cent I should have had that ball,” Blanks said. “The last 10, 15 feet the ball moved a lot more than I thought it was going to.”

Claimed off waivers from the Padres last month, Baxter grew up in Queens about 10 minutes from the Mets’ home and went to games at Shea Stadium as a kid. But he had never been to Citi Field, which opened in 2009, before arriving in the clubhouse Monday.

After his key hit, Baxter clapped his hands at second base as his family stood and cheered in the stands. It was his second major league hit and RBI.

“If it’s caught, nothing really happens,” Qualls said. “By dropping it, it kind of gave them a little bit of life.”

Ronny Paulino’s sacrifice fly cut it to 8-6.

“I think if we still have a four-run lead there, I don’t think they really think they have a chance,” Qualls said. “I think more or less that play out in left was pivotal in the game.”

Jason Pridie opened the ninth with a single off Bell (2-4), a former Met, and moved up on a wild pitch as Pagan struck out. Justin Turner’s single put runners at the corners and Wright smacked an RBI single up the middle.

Another wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third before Duda grounded a single up the middle, just past diving second baseman Orlando Hudson.

Wright scored the winning run with a headfirst slide into the leg of plate umpire Marty Foster, and the jubilant Mets mobbed Duda near second base.

Willie Harris pelted Duda in the face with a cream pie as he was interviewed on the field.

“It’s great to get a win like this. There’s a lot of fight with the guys here,” Mets starter Mike Pelfrey said.

Jason Isringhausen (3-2) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.

Bell’s third blown save in 34 chances dropped the Padres to 44-2 when taking a lead into the ninth.

“His stuff was good. The Mets had good at-bats,” Black said. “The wild pitch came back to haunt us.”

Jesus Guzman had two RBI singles for San Diego and Tim Stauffer lasted seven innings after serving up three early homers. Coming off a three-game sweep at slumping Pittsburgh, the last-place Padres fought back from a 4-1 deficit against Mike Pelfrey with their latest offensive outburst.

San Diego, which began the day at the bottom of the NL rankings in home runs (63) and batting average (.235), has scored 46 runs in the last five games.

“I think we’re still on a roll. Everybody’s swinging the bat well, playing hard,” third baseman Logan Forsythe said.

Bay homered leading off the second and Wright added a two-run shot to make it 4-1 in the third, but the Padres tied it with a three-run sixth. Bartlett started the rally with a single and Blanks capped it with an RBI double.

Braves 8 Marlins 5

At Miami, Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 29 games and Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to help Atlanta drop Florida to 0-5 on its homestand.

—

Rockies 10 Reds 7

At Cincinnati, Carlos Gonzalez’s two-run homer — Colorado’s fourth of the game — broke an eighth-inning tie in a that featured a long rain delay and seven homers in all.

—

Astros 9 Diamondbacks 1

At Phoenix, Wandy Rodriguez allowed two hits over six innings and J.D. Martinez homered to lead Houston.

—

Pirates 5 Giants 1

At San Francisco, Charlie Morton and Jose Veras combined on a six-hitter and Ryan Ludwick hit two RBI singles as Pittsburgh snapped a 10-game losing streak.

—

Phillies 5 Dodgers 3

At Los Angeles, Roy Halladay became the NL’s first 15-game winner, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins each drove in two runs and Philadelphia beat the Dodgers.