SAN DIEGO — Mat Latos took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out nine in seven innings, and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Monday night.

It was a strong finish to an uneven season for Latos (9-14) who struggled during the first half. It was the 16th time in his last 17 starts that Latos allowed three or fewer runs. He allowed only two hits before Chad Qualls threw a perfect eighth and Heath Bell a perfect ninth for his 43rd save in 48 chances.

It was the 10th shutout for the Padres and the 10th time the Cubs were shut out.

Latos was perfect through four innings before issuing his only walk, to Carlos Pena leading off the fifth. Pena stole second but was stranded after Latos retired the side.

Latos didn’t allow his first hit until Cubs starter Casey Coleman tripled into the gap in right-center with one out in the sixth. Latos then got a groundout and fly out to strand Coleman.

Starlin Castro singled leading off the seventh and reached third with two outs before Latos got Steve Clevenger to foul out.

San Diego’s Will Venable homered to straightaway center field leading off the sixth, his eighth. Jesus Guzman doubled with one out and scored on Cameron Maybin’s double, which chased Coleman.

Casey Coleman (3-9) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out seven and walked two.

NOTES: Like the Padres, the Cubs have 90 losses. … Castro singled off Latos leading off the seventh to reach base safely in a career-high 38 straight games. … Chicago’s Rafael Dolis made his big league debut when he relieved Coleman with two outs in the sixth. He got Chase Headley to ground out. … The series continues Tuesday night with Cubs righty Matt Garza (9-10, 3.35) facing San Diego rookie righty Anthony Bass (2-0, 1.66). Garza will look to extend his winning streak to season-high four games. In his last start, he threw the eighth complete game of his career and his second this season. Bass will be making his third career start.

DENVER — Rookie Anthony Bass pitched five solid innings to help the San Diego Padres complete a rare three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 4-0 win Wednesday in the final game of the season at Coors Field.

Bass (2-0) cruised through this game, allowing just two hits andd throwing an economical 52 pitches before leaving after a leadoff walk in the sixth. Both of his major league wins have now come at Colorado.

Anthony Rizzo and Andy Parrino had RBI singles for the Padres, who earned their first sweep of three or more games in Denver since April 2001.

The reeling Rockies have dropped seven straight at home, their longest drought ever at Coors. The team lost nine in a row at home in their inaugural season of 1993 when they played at old Mile High Stadium.

Aaron Cook (3-10) settled down after a rough first inning in which he surrendered four runs. He tied a career high with eight strikeouts before being pulled after the fifth in what might have been his last start for the Rockies at home.

The sinkerball specialist has had a tough season in the final year of his contract.

And given the disappointing season by the Rockies — a trendy pick to win the NL West in spring training — the team could be looking to drastically shake things up. Cook is the team’s all-time leader in wins (72), innings pitched (1,312 1-3) and starts (206).

Colorado had All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki back in the lineup after he missed a week with a sore left hip. He flied out twice before being pulled in the sixth inning.

That was part of Rockies manager Jim Tracy’s plan. He didn’t want to overwork Tulowitzki and risk further injury.

Tracy also played it safe with first baseman Todd Helton (back) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist) as he held them out of the lineup Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Bass made his major league debut in this stadium on June 13. Right after picking up his first win, he was sent back to Double-A San Antonio.

But Bass soon returned and has been solid in 24 relief appearances for the Padres. He was pitching well enough Wednesday to keep going but hasn’t thrown more than 45 pitches in a game since mid July.

After allowing a walk to Chris Iannetta to start the sixth, Bass was lifted for reliever Ernesto Frieri, who gave up a single before retiring the side.

Heath Bell was summoned into the game in the ninth with runners on first and third and one out. He struck out pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton and Seth Smith to earn his 41st save in 46 chances.

The Padres played solid defense behind Bass, starting with center fielder Cameron Maybin’s leaping catch up against the wall in the second to rob Smith of an extra-base hit. The team also turned a double play in the fifth to avoid what could’ve been a sticky inning.

San Diego jumped on Cook early, sending nine batters to the plate in a four-run first frame. Chase Headley and Alberto Gonzalez each had sacrifice flies, while Rizzo and Parrino added RBI singles.

DENVER (AP) — Rookie Anthony Bass pitched five solid innings to help the San Diego Padres complete a rare three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 4-0 win Wednesday in the final game of the season at Coors Field. Bass (2-0) cruised through this game, allowing just two hits andd throwing an economical 52 pitches before leaving after a leadoff walk in the sixth. Both of his major league wins have now come at Colorado. Anthony Rizzo and Andy Parrino had RBI singles for the Padres, who earned their first sweep of three or more games in Denver since April 2001. The reeling Rockies have dropped seven straight at home, their longest drought ever at Coors. The team lost nine in a row at home in their inaugural season of 1993 when they played at old Mile High Stadium. Aaron Cook (3-10) settled down after a rough first inning in which he surrendered four runs. He tied a career high with eight strikeouts before being pulled after the fifth in what might have been his last start for the Rockies at home. The sinkerball specialist has had a tough season in the final year of his contract. And given the disappointing season by the Rockies — a trendy pick to win the NL West in spring training — the team could be looking to drastically shake things up. Cook is the team’s all-time leader in wins (72), innings pitched (1,312 1-3) and starts (206). Colorado had All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki back in the lineup after he missed a week with a sore left hip. He flied out twice before being pulled in the sixth inning. That was part of Rockies manager Jim Tracy’s plan. He didn’t want to overwork Tulowitzki and risk further injury. Tracy also played it safe with first baseman Todd Helton (back) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (right wrist) as he held them out of the lineup Wednesday. The 23-year-old Bass made his major league debut in this stadium on June 13. Right after picking up his first win, he was sent back to Double-A San Antonio. But Bass soon returned and has been solid in 24 relief appearances for the Padres. He was pitching well enough Wednesday to keep going but hasn’t thrown more than 45 pitches in a game since mid July. After allowing a walk to Chris Iannetta to start the sixth, Bass was lifted for reliever Ernesto Frieri, who gave up a single before retiring the side. Heath Bell was summoned into the game in the ninth with runners on first and third and one out. He struck out pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton and Seth Smith to earn his 41st save in 46 chances. The Padres played solid defense behind Bass, starting with center fielder Cameron Maybin’s leaping catch up against the wall in the second to rob Smith of an extra-base hit. The team also turned a double play in the fifth to avoid what could’ve been a sticky inning. San Diego jumped on Cook early, sending nine batters to the plate in a four-run first frame. Chase Headley and Alberto Gonzalez each had sacrifice flies, while Rizzo and Parrino added RBI singles. Cook finally escaped the inning by striking out Bass on a slider. Later in the game, Cook was hit in the rear by a liner. He took a few warmup pitches before motioning to Tracy and the trainer that he was all right to continue. Cook has been with the Rockies for the last 10 seasons. He started a game for the Rockies in the 2007 World Series and another in the ’09 postseason. He also pitched in the ’08 All-Star Game. “I hope it isn’t his last start,” Tulowitzki said. “He’s meant so much to this organization.” NOTES: Rockies RHP Alex White, who was acquired in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade with Cleveland, will throw Thursday in Houston against Henry Sosa. … The Padres are off Thursday before starting a six-game homestand to close out the season. … Padres 1B Jesus Guzman was a late scratch due to a sore neck. … With his performance against the Rockies, Bass lowered his ERA to 1.66.. … The Rockies and Padres wound up 9-9 in the season series.

Read More: Mark Ellis (2B – COL), Kevin Millwood (P – COL), Cory Luebke (P – SDP), San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies will finish with a below-.500 record at Coors Field this season after Monday’ 8-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. Just as 2011 as has gone the last several weeks, the Rockies looked inept out there while playing in their 41st home loss.

Cory Luebke (6-9, 3.23 ERA) allowed his only hit of the game in the sixth inning when Mark Ellis hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Eric Young Jr. had reached base two batters earlier. Luebke struck out nine over seven innings. Ernesto Frieri struck out three Rockies over the final two innings of the game.

Kevin Millwood (3-3, 4.56 ERA) had his shortest and worst outing as a Rockie. The first three runs scored on singles in the second and things innings, but in the fourth Aaron Cunningham hit a two-run home run to make the game 5-0 in favor of the Padres. Cameron Maybin then followed in the dame inning with his own two-run home run. Jason Bartlett’s sacrifice fly made it 8-0 in favor of the Padres.

The Rockies (70-83, 38-41 home) have two more home games left. Jhoulys Chacin and Mat Latos take the mound on Tuesday evening.

For more on the Rockies, visit Purple Row. Check out Gaslamp Ball for more on the Padres.

Cory Luebke tossed seven brilliant innings to lead the San Diego Padres to an 8-2 thrashing of the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game set at Coors Field.

Luebke (6-9) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before having it broken up on a two-run home run by Mark Ellis. That turned out to be Colorado’s only hit. Luebke struck out nine and walked three. Ernesto Frieri pitched the final two innings.

Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham clubbed two-run home runs in the fourth inning and Jason Bartlett added a pair of RBI for the Padres. Luebke also helped his own cause with two hits.

Kevin Millwood (3-3) was roughed up in 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs — six earned — on nine hits for the Rockies, losers of five straight.

Kyle Blanks and Orlando Hudson singled to begin the San Diego second and Jeremy Hermida followed with another single up the middle to bring home Blanks, giving the Padres the early lead.

They poured it on from there.

San Diego added two more runs in the third. Maybin reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and came around to score on a single by Bartlett. Nick Hundley then reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on a passed ball before Blanks knocked him in with a single to left.

A pair of two-run homers by Cunningham and Maybin in the fourth put the Padres ahead by a comfortable 7-0 margin.

Maybin cracked a triple into the gap in right-center field with one out in the sixth and waltzed home on a sacrifice fly by Bartlett to push the San Diego advantage to 8-0.

Colorado got on the board in the home half of the inning when Luebke walked Eric Young Jr. with one out then had his no-hit bid ended as Ellis crushed a 3-1 fastball over the wall in dead center field to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

Hermida connected on his first triple of the season in the fifth…Colorado leads the season series, 9-7…It was only the fourth time in the history of Coors Field that the Rockies have been held to one hit or less.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Rockies were hoping to end their season on a strong note. By the sixth inning Monday night, they were hoping to get a hit.

Mark Ellis’ two-run homer with two outs in the sixth broke up left-hander Cory Luebke’s no-hit bid, but it was the highlight of the night in the Rockies’ 8-2 loss to San Diego at Coors Field.

Their latest debacle in LoDo gave the Rockies a five-game losing streak. With Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton still sidelined, there’s no end in sight to the team’s late-season fade.

The Rockies were swept in four games by the Giants by a combined score of 35-16 to open their final homestand. And Monday night provided more of the same as the Padres led 7-0 by the fourth inning.

Kevin Millwood, the Rockies’ steadiest starter since being signed in August, lasted 3 1/3 innings, during which he allowed nine hits and six earned runs. He left after allowing two-run homers to Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham in the fourth.

The Rockies are trying to avoid a repeat of last season, when they lost 13 of their final 14 games.

Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com

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Looking ahead

TUESDAY: Padres at Rockies, 6:40 p.m., Root

The lack of progress by Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (11-12, 3.73 ERA) can be seen as regression. He looked like a potential ace in June when he was in the all-star conversation. Through his first 99 2/3 innings, he was 8-4 with a 2.71 ERA. Since then he has been a fifth starter, or worse, going 3-8 with a 4.98 ERA. He has probably spoiled any chance of getting a multiyear contract through some of his arbitration seasons. Tonight likely is the final start of the season for Chacin, 23. The onus falls on him and Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca to find more con- sistency. The Padres’ Mat Latos (7-14, 3.73) is brutal vs. righties (.209 batting average).

Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

Upcoming pitching matchups

Wednesday: Padres’ Anthony Bass (1-0, 1.88 ERA) at Rockies’ Aaron Cook (3-9, 5.97), 1:10 p.m., Root

Thursday: Rockies’ Alex White (3-2, 6.75) at Astros’ Henry Sosa (2-5, 4.74), 6:05 p.m., Root

Friday: Rockies’ Drew Pomeranz (1-0, 1.69) at Astros’ Brett Myers (6-13, 4.39), 6:05 p.m., Root

Saturday: Rockies’ Kevin Millwood (3-3, 4.56) at Astros’ J.A. Happ (6-15, 5.48), 5:05 p.m., Root

Arizona maintained a five-game lead over second-place San Francisco with nine games remaining, stopping a three-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks open a nine-game homestand Monday against Pittsburgh, then host the Giants for a three-game series next weekend.

“When you go on a little stretch and you get a little antsy like that, you start to press a little bit,” Saunders said. “You just need to relax. When you relax, things come easier to you. I think that’s what happened. They didn’t try to do to much and we just played our game.”

San Francisco kept the pressure on the Diamondbacks with its eighth straight win, 12-5 at Colorado.

“It’s been a couple of days, so it’s a good feeling,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “Every victory at this point of the season is great. The Giants have been playing great and are on a big winning streak. We needed to match that and take care of our own business.”

Saunders (12-12) wanted to make sure he did his job at Petco Park, where he has pitched his best games this season.

The lefty limited last-place San Diego to an unearned run and seven hits in 8 2-3 innings, improving to 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA against the Padres this year. He threw his only complete game this season in a 6-1 win at San Diego on July 26.

“I came in this morning and decided I need to go out there and throw my ‘A’ game,” Saunders said. “We got some clutch hits down the stretch. We’re grinding it out. It was a good win for us.”

After Saunders allowed two-out singles by Kyle Blanks and Alberto Gonzalez in the ninth, J.J. Putz struck out pinch-hitter Nick Hundley for his 41st save in 45 chances.

Goldschmidt led the Arizona offense, which managed just three runs during the losing streak. Goldschmidt had three hits, including a leadoff homer in the sixth that put the Diamondbacks ahead for good at 2-1.

“We just couldn’t get to Joe Saunders,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “His assortment of fastballs in, fastballs down and away. We just couldn’t get enough balls squared against him.”

Aaron Harang (13-7) allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings. He has lost four of his last five starts despite a 3.19 ERA in that span.

Cameron Maybin had a leadoff single in the third, stole second, took third on Miguel Montero’s throwing error from behind the plate and scored on Jason Bartlett’s groundout.

Montero’s 17th homer tied the score leading off the fourth. Goldschmidt put the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1 with a leadoff homer in the sixth.

“It was just a first-pitch fastball up and away,” Goldschmidt said. “He likes to get ahead with fastballs, so I was looking for it.”

Goldschmidt combined with Aaron Hill for RBI singles in the seventh against Brad Brach and added a sacrifice fly against Erik Hamren in the eighth.

NOTES: Arizona was 11-7 against San Diego, which is 23-43 against the NL West. … RHP Ian Kennedy (19-4, 2.99 ERA) will attempt to become the NL’s first 20-game winner this season Monday when he faces Pittsburgh RHP Jeff Karstens (9-8, 3.45). … San Diego LHP Corey Luebke (5-9, 3.27) will start the opener of a three-game series, the club’s final road games, at Colorado against RHP Kevin Millwood (3-2, 3.68).

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

SAN DIEGO (AP)—With the San Francisco Giants getting hot, the Arizona
Diamondbacks know they have to keep winning.

Joe Saunders(notes) took a five-hitter into the ninth inning, Paul Goldschmidt(notes)
drove in three runs and the Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 Sunday to
cut the magic number to five for their first NL West title since 2007.

Arizona maintained a five-game lead over second-place San Francisco with
nine games remaining, stopping a three-game losing streak. The Diamondbacks open
a nine-game homestand Monday against Pittsburgh, then host the Giants for a
three-game series next weekend.

“When you go on a little stretch and you get a little antsy like that, you
start to press a little bit,” Saunders said. “You just need to relax. When you
relax, things come easier to you. I think that’s what happened. They didn’t try
to do to much and we just played our game.”

San Francisco kept the pressure on the Diamondbacks with its eighth straight
win, 12-5 at Colorado.

“It’s been a couple of days, so it’s a good feeling,” Arizona manager Kirk
Gibson said. “Every victory at this point of the season is great. The Giants
have been playing great and are on a big winning streak. We needed to match that
and take care of our own business.”

Saunders (12-12) wanted to make sure he did his job at Petco Park, where he
has pitched his best games this season.

The lefty limited last-place San Diego to an unearned run and seven hits in
8 2-3 innings, improving to 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA against the Padres this year. He
threw his only complete game this season in a 6-1 win at San Diego on July 26.

“I came in this morning and decided I need to go out there and throw my `A’
game,” Saunders said. “We got some clutch hits down the stretch. We’re
grinding it out. It was a good win for us.”

After Saunders allowed two-out singles by Kyle Blanks(notes) and Alberto Gonzalez(notes)
in the ninth, J.J. Putz(notes) struck out pinch-hitter Nick Hundley(notes) for his 41st save
in 45 chances.

Goldschmidt led the Arizona offense, which managed just three runs during
the losing streak. Goldschmidt had three hits, including a leadoff homer in the
sixth that put the Diamondbacks ahead for good at 2-1.

“We just couldn’t get to Joe Saunders,” Padres manager Bud Black said.
“His assortment of fastballs in, fastballs down and away. We just couldn’t get
enough balls squared against him.”

Aaron Harang(notes) (13-7) allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings. He has
lost four of his last five starts despite a 3.19 ERA in that span.

Cameron Maybin(notes) had a leadoff single in the third, stole second, took third
on Miguel Montero’s(notes) throwing error from behind the plate and scored on Jason
Bartlett’s(notes) groundout.

Montero’s 17th homer tied the score leading off the fourth. Goldschmidt put
the Diamondbacks ahead 2-1 with a leadoff homer in the sixth.

“It was just a first-pitch fastball up and away,” Goldschmidt said. “He
likes to get ahead with fastballs, so I was looking for it.”

Goldschmidt combined with Aaron Hill(notes) for RBI singles in the seventh against
Brad Brach(notes) and added a sacrifice fly against Erik Hamren(notes) in the eighth.

NOTES: Arizona was 11-7 against San Diego, which is 23-43 against the NL
West. … RHP Ian Kennedy(notes) (19-4, 2.99 ERA) will attempt to become the NL’s first
20-game winner this season Monday when he faces Pittsburgh RHP Jeff Karstens(notes)
(9-8, 3.45). … San Diego LHP Corey Luebke (5-9, 3.27) will start the opener of
a three-game series, the club’s final road games, at Colorado against RHP Kevin
Millwood(notes) (3-2, 3.68).

SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Beltran hit two homers to give him 300 for his career and Tim Lincecum ended a three-start winless stretch as the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Wednesday to complete a rare sweep in this rivalry.

Beltran homered in the first inning and again in the sixth with a splash hit into McCovey Cove to put the Giants ahead. It marked the slugger’s 30th career multihomer game, third this year and first since joining San Francisco in a trade from the Mets on July 28.

Lincecum (13-12) outdueled Mat Latos (7-14) for his first win since beating the Padres on Aug. 24.

The defending World Series champion Giants began the day trailing the first-place Diamondbacks by 8 1/2 games in the NL West. Arizona had a night game at Los Angeles.

San Francisco has its first four-game winning streak since July 9-15.

Lincecum allowed four hits and an unearned run while striking out six and walking two in seven innings as the Giants wrapped up their first winning home series in the last eight sets since taking two of three against Milwaukee from July 22-24. September call-up Hector Sanchez caught Lincecum for the first time.

After Dan Runzler walked pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia to start the eighth, Sergio Romo relieved and retired the side in order. He pumped his fist after striking out Cameron Maybin to end the inning. Santiago Casilla finished with a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.

San Diego, which dropped its fourth straight

this season at AT&T Park and sixth in seven games, was swept in a series of three or more games against the Giants for the first time since Aug. 22-24, 2008. This was San Francisco’s first sweep this year since taking three in a row June 24-26 from Cleveland.

It was largely because of

Beltran.

The slugger’s shot into the water beyond the right-field arcade was the fourth by a Giants player this year, 59th by San Francisco overall and No. 83 in the history of the 12-year-old ballpark. Home run king Barry Bonds has 35 of them.

Beltran also homered over the elevated brick wall in right to tie the game in the first. He went 7 for 12 (.583) with a double, three homers and four RBIs in the series and is batting .520 (13 for 25) with four homers in seven games against San Diego this season.

The Padres had taken a

1-0 lead against Lincecum on Jesus Guzman’s two-out RBI double in the top half.

Latos was tagged for seven hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

All-Star third baseman Pablo Sandoval provided a big defensive stop to end the third with Will Venable on third after he stole his 26th base. Sandoval lunged to his left to field Guzman’s sharp grounder, then fired to first just in time while throwing from one knee. He chuckled after doing it again on nearly an identical play on Maybin’s grounder in the sixth.

NOTES: San Diego is 4-17 in its stretch of 30 straight games against division foes. … Longtime Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankees 2B Jerry Coleman celebrated his 87th birthday. A retired Marine Lt. Col. and Bay Area native, Coleman worked the radio booth from the fourth through the sixth innings. … Giants rookie Brandon Belt will play five or six weeks of winter ball in the Dominican Republic to make up for time missed while he was injured this summer. Belt was sidelined after sustaining a hairline fracture in his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis’ Trever Miller in June. The team approached Belt last month about going to winter ball. … All-Star RHP Ryan Vogelsong (10-7) starts Thursday night for the Giants at Colorado while trying to end a five-start losing streak. … After an off day Thursday, RHP Tim Stauffer starts for the Padres on Friday, looking for his first career win against the Diamondbacks in his fifth start and 11th appearance. … Lincecum is 54-4 when the Giants score at least three runs for him. … Romo appeared in all three games in the series.

CBSSports.com wire reports
Sep. 14, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO — In less than two months, Carlos Beltran has been through a cross-country move to switch teams and a hand and wrist injury that landed him on the disabled list.

That left little time to think about his latest milestone: home run No. 300.

Beltran connected twice to give him 300 for his career and Tim Lincecum ended a three-start winless stretch in the San Francisco Giants’ 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday that completed a rare sweep in this rivalry.

“It means a lot for me, actually. Thank God for that, being able to play this game for a long time,” said Beltran, both knees wrapped in ice bags and his hand sore. “Three hundred, for a guy from Manati, Puerto Rico, a small town, it’s good.”

Beltran became the sixth Puerto Rican-born player to reach 300 home runs.

He homered in the first inning and again in the sixth with a splash hit into McCovey Cove to put the Giants ahead. It marked the slugger’s 30th career multihomer game, third this year and first since joining San Francisco in a trade from the Mets on July 28.

“Beltran is one of the best players in the National League. And he’s got that in him,” Padres manager Bud Black said.

Lincecum (13-12) outdueled Mat Latos (7-14) for his first win since beating the Padres on Aug. 24.

The defending World Series champion Giants began the day trailing the first-place Diamondbacks by 8½ games in the NL West. Arizona had a night game at Los Angeles.

San Francisco has its first four-game winning streak since July 9-15.

Lincecum allowed four hits and an unearned run in seven innings. He struck out six and walked two as the Giants wrapped up their first winning home series in the last eight sets since taking two of three against Milwaukee from July 22-24. September call-up Hector Sanchez caught Lincecum for the first time.

“A lot of credit goes to Sanchez for making adjustments from our first inning on,” Lincecum said.

After Dan Runzler walked pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia to start the eighth, Sergio Romo relieved and retired the side in order. He pumped his fist after striking out Cameron Maybin to end the inning. Santiago Casilla finished with a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.

San Diego, which dropped its fourth straight this season at AT&T Park and sixth in seven games, was swept in a series of three or more games against the Giants for the first time since Aug. 22-24, 2008. This was San Francisco’s first sweep this year since taking three in a row June 24-26 from Cleveland.

It was largely because of Beltran.

The slugger’s shot into the water beyond the right-field arcade was the fourth by a Giants player this year, 59th by San Francisco overall and No. 83 in the history of the 12-year-old ballpark. Home run king Barry Bonds has 35 of them.

“He makes this park look small at times,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “I think it puts you in a really elite class — 500 is the benchmark for guys who are going in the Hall of Fame, 300 is quite a feat. Few guys have done that.”

Beltran also homered over the elevated brick wall in right to tie the game in the first. He went 7 for 12 (.583) with a double, three homers and four RBIs in the series and is batting .520 (13 for 25) with four homers in seven games against San Diego this season.

“You really have to hit the ball good in order to hit it out,” Beltran said. “That’s why in the dugout we always talk about what Barry Bonds did here for many years.”

Kayaker Dave Edlund, a McCovey Cove regular, retrieved Beltran’s 300th and also No. 298 after it hit the water on the bounce. Beltran was open to a trade with Edlund but also fine with the fan keeping the souvenir.

Whether Beltran will be hitting home runs here beyond this season is unclear. He said that will be a decision for after the season, though it’s not certain the Giants will want to pay him the contract he seeks, either. Beltran can become a free agent after the World Series and is represented by Scott Boras.

“It’s not my decision, but I’d be happy if he comes back,” All-Star third baseman Pablo Sandoval said.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead against Lincecum on Jesus Guzman’s two-out RBI double in the first.

Latos was tagged for seven hits and three runs in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one.

Sandoval provided a big defensive stop to end the third with Will Venable on third after he stole his 26th base. Sandoval lunged to his left to field Guzman’s sharp grounder, then fired to first just in time while throwing from one knee. He chuckled after doing it again on nearly an identical play on Maybin’s grounder in the sixth.

“Tough as he usually is,” Maybin said of Lincecum. “That’s why he’s a Cy Young Award winner.”

Notes

San Diego is 4-17 in its stretch of 30 straight games against division foes. … Longtime Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankees 2B Jerry Coleman celebrated his 87th birthday. A retired Marine Lt. Col. and Bay Area native, Coleman worked the radio booth from the fourth through the sixth innings. … Giants rookie Brandon Belt will play five or six weeks of winter ball in the Dominican Republic to make up for time missed while he was injured this summer. Belt was sidelined after sustaining a hairline fracture in his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis’ Trever Miller in June. The team approached Belt last month about going to winter ball. … All-Star RHP Ryan Vogelsong (10-7) starts Thursday night for the Giants at Colorado while trying to end a five-start losing streak. … After an off day Thursday, RHP Tim Stauffer starts for the Padres on Friday, looking for his first career win against the Diamondbacks in his fifth start and 11th appearance. … Lincecum is 54-4 when the Giants score at least three runs for him. … Romo appeared in all three games in the series.

SAN DIEGO (AP)—The San Francisco Giants know time is running short on
defending their World Series title.

Aaron Harang(notes) threw seven strong innings and Cameron Maybin(notes) had two hits and
an RBI as the San Diego Padres dealt a big blow to the Giants’ fading playoff
hopes with a 3-1 victory Wednesday night.

The Giants, who have 19 games left, came into the game trailing NL
West-leading Arizona by six games. San Francisco has dropped three of four and
six of 10.

“We have to win,” Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain(notes) said. “That’s all we
have to do, is win.”

San Francisco was going for a sweep of the three-game series against a club
it had beaten six of the previous seven games at Petco Park.

But Cain, who is 8-19 lifetime against the Padres, had little to show for
allowing two runs and four hits in seven innings. After he allowed Will
Venable’s(notes) leadoff homer in the first, he settled down and retired 11 consecutive
batters before he issued two walks. Cain didn’t allow another hit until Maybin’s
two-out double in the sixth.

“He did a great job,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He gave up the
leadoff homer and then he dealt. He keeps grinding out there for us.”

Cain (11-10) struck out seven and walked three as he made his 200th career
start.

San Francisco rookie Brett Pill(notes) homered for a second straight game after he
hit a home run Tuesday night in his first major league at-bat.

“It’s kind of frustrating when we can’t really do anything for Matt,” Pill
said.

Venable scored twice, while Maybin doubled and tripled in a run in the
ninth.

The Padres got clutch defensive plays by Venable and Maybin.

The first was by Maybin, who made a long running catch while crashing into
the wall in left-center field to rob Justin Christian(notes) leading off the game.
Maybin hit his forehead on the padded wall and was on the ground for about a
minute before he got up and stayed in the game.

“I kind of face-planted dead square,” Maybin said. “Luckily, I was able
to make a play and keep the early momentum because those guys take advantage.”

Venable threw out Pill at home in the seventh when the rookie tried to score
on a medium fly ball to right by pinch-hitter Pat Burrell(notes).

“It’s one of those things that you have to go for it,” Bochy said. “It
took a perfect throw. Those are the things you look back on and they hurt.”

Said Harang: “The guys made some good plays from the first hitter of the
game that kind of set the tone. It showed the intensity and excitement level
that was going to happen.”

San Diego, last in the NL West at 62-81, won for the second time in 13 games
overall.

“That’s the kind of intensity we have to bring day in and day out, no
matter where we are in the standings,” Maybin said.

Harang (13-5) broke a two-start losing streak by allowing one run and four
hits in seven innings. Harang, who struck out three and walked three, is 2-0
with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this season against the Giants, all at Petco
Park.

Heath Bell(notes) got the final four outs for his 36th save in 40 chances. Bell
replaced Chad Qualls(notes) in the eighth and threw one pitch to retire Carlos Beltran(notes)
on a line drive to right with a runner on first and two outs.

Venable led off the Padres’ first with his seventh homer to right. It also
extended his season club record for leadoff homers to five.

The home run was the third allowed by Cain in his last 20 starts. Overall,
Cain has given up only eight homers.

“Everything was feeling all right,” he said. “I was trying to get ahead
of guys and get early strikes.”

Pill tied the game with a homer leading off the fifth. Pill joined John
Bowker(notes) as the only two players in franchise history to homer in their first two
major league games.

Pill homered off Wade LeBlanc(notes) on Tuesday night in his first major league
at-bat, a two-run shot in the second inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win.

The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Jesus Guzman(notes) singled in Maybin,
who reached on a two-out double.

Notes: Cain has pitched 203 innings this season, the fifth straight season
he has reached the 200-inning mark. … Bowker homered in his major league debut
on April 12, 2008, and again the next day. … Padres manager Bud Black said
after the game that INF Logan Forsythe(notes) would undergo surgery on his left knee on
Thursday. Forsythe has not played since Friday with an inflamed patellar tendon
in his right knee. But Black said Forsythe’s left knee, surgically repaired in
the offseason, starting bothering him midway through this season. … After a
day off, Giants RHP Tim Lincecum(notes) (12-12, 2.75 ERA) will attempt to beat the Los
Angeles Dodgers for the first time this season in four starts (0-2, 1.86) on
Friday to open a six-game homestand. LHP Clayton Kershaw(notes) (17-5, 2.45) pitches
for the Dodgers. … LHP Cory Luebke(notes) (5-8, 3.29) will start for the Padres on
Thursday at Arizona, facing NL wins leader RHP Ian Kennedy(notes) (18-4, 2.96).