Carlos Beltran and the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals
agreed to a two-year contract pending results of a physical, a move
that would fortify the team’s lineup following the departure of
Albert Pujols.

The team disclosed the agreement Thursday night and said it
expects to make a formal announcement shortly after the
holidays.

KMOX, the Cardinals’ flagship radio station, reported the deal
is for $26 million over two years _ the same figure cited by a
person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated
Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial
details of the agreement were not announced by the team.

The 34-year-old Beltran batted .300 with 22 home runs, 84 RBIs
and a .385 on-base percentage for the New York Mets and San
Francisco Giants this year. He likely will be the opening-day right
fielder for the Cardinals next season. Lance Berkman is expected to
move to first base, taking Pujols’ spot.

Beltran and Berkman are switch-hitters, giving new manager Mike
Matheny lineup flexibility.

Earlier this month, St. Louis re-signed shortstop Rafael Furcal
to a two-year, $14 million contract and added left-handed reliever
J.C. Romero with a one-year, $750,000 deal. The Cardinals appear to
need only a few spare parts to finalize the roster.

After Pujols signed a $254 million, 10-year contract with the
Los Angeles Angels, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said he
expected his team’s payroll to perhaps exceed this year’s total of
$110 million.

Allen Craig, coming off an impressive postseason, gives the
Cardinals another strong option in the outfield but will miss at
least the first month of the season while recovering from knee
surgery.

A six-time All-Star, Beltran began his career with the
cross-state Royals in 1998, three years after Kansas City drafted
him in the second round. The switch-hitter has a .283 career
batting average with 302 home runs and 1,146 RBIs.

“Beltran is a proven outfielder who obviously has been a tough
opponent against the Cardinals for many years,” St. Louis general
manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. “It is going to be nice
to have his bat and competitive nature working for us instead of on
the other side of the field for the next couple of years.”

Beltran faced the Cardinals in a pair of NL championship series,
in 2004 with Houston and 2006 with the Mets. St. Louis won both
series despite several big hits by Beltran.

With a chance to put the Mets in the World Series, however, he
struck out looking to end Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against Cardinals
right-hander Adam Wainwright.

___

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) -

The Tucson Padres will have the same coaching staff next season.

The San Diego Padres said Terry Kennedy will return for his third season as manager of the Triple-A affiliate. He has been at the helm since 2010, when the Padres were the Portland Beavers.

“I am extremely happy to be coming back to Tucson,” Kennedy said in the press release. “We will have a good group of players from Double-A. I think this wave of San Diego Padres homegrown talent will give the fans in Tucson a high level of excitement.”

Returning with Kennedy will be hitting coach Bob Skube, pitching coach Steve Webber, athletic trainer Wade Yamasaki.

“I am thrilled about our coaching staff coming back next season,” Padres Vice President and General Manager Mike Feder said. “Terry, Bob, Steve and Wade have all had success on the field and in the dugout. Also, they have shown commitment to the Tucson community.”

Kennedy has compiled a 649-630 record as a minor-league manager. As a player, he was a four-time Major League All-Star (1981, 1983, 1985, 1987) and played in two World Series (1984, 1989).

The Tucson Padres begin their second season April 5 at Kino Stadium against the Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

We’ll have the complete story on KOLD News 13 at 4, 5, 6 & 10. Stay up to date at KOLD.com or on your KOLD mobile app.

Copyright 2011 KOLD. All rights reserved.

According to Major League Baseball’s official Twitter feed, the San Diego Padres have announced that general manager Jed Hoyer and scouting director Jason McCleod will be joining Theo Epstein with the Chicago Cubs.

The tweet from @MLB read, “BREAKING: Cubs, Padres announce that Jed Hoyer & Jason McLeod will leave the Padres, effective immediately, to accept positions with Cubs.”

A follow-up tweet added, “Padres will announce Josh Byrnes as Jed Hoyer’s successor as executive vice president/general manager on Oct. 31.”

Hoyer and McCleod worked under Epstein to build the Boston Red Sox’s championship teams; Hoyer left first when he was hired to be the Padres’ GM in 2009, and McLeod was brought to San Diego a few months later.

With the Cubs, Hoyer will become Executive Vice President/General Manager while McLeod will receive the title of Senior Vice President/Scouting and Player Development.  The Cubs will also send a player to be named later as part of the deal.

The Cubs and Padres released a joint statement announcing the moves:

The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres jointly announce today that Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod will leave the Padres, effective immediately, to accept positions with the Cubs. The Cubs have agreed to send the Padres a player to be named later as compensation.

Both the Cubs and the Padres intend to hold press conferences after the World Series. The Cubs intend to announce Hoyer as Executive Vice President/General Manager and McLeod as Senior Vice President/Scouting and Player Development, while the Padres intend to announce Josh Byrnes as Hoyer’s successor.

Out of respect for the World Series, both clubs have agreed to forego further comment until holding their respective news conferences after the World Series is complete.

(Reuters) – List of previous results in Major League Baseball’s World Series:

2010 – San Francisco Giants 4, Texas Rangers 1

2009 – New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

2008 – Philadelphia Phillies 4, Tampa Bay Rays 1

2007 – Boston Red Sox 4, Colorado Rockies 0

2006 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Detroit Tigers 1

2005 – Chicago White Sox 4, Houston Astros 0

2004 – Boston Red Sox 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0

2003 – Florida Marlins 4, New York Yankees 2

2002 – Anaheim Angels 4, San Francisco Giants 3

2001 – Arizona Diamondbacks 4, New York Yankees 3

2000 – New York Yankees 4, New York Mets 1

1999 – New York Yankees 4, Atlanta Braves 0

1998 – New York Yankees 4, San Diego Padres 0

1997 – Florida Marlins 4, Cleveland Indians 3

1996 – New York Yankees 4, Atlanta Braves 2

1995 – Atlanta Braves 4, Cleveland Indians 2

1994 – Not held

1993 – Toronto Blue Jays 4, Philadelphia Phillies 2

1992 – Toronto Blue Jays 4, Atlanta Braves 2

1991 – Minnesota Twins 4, Atlanta Braves 3

1990 – Cincinnati Reds 4, Oakland Athletics 0

1989 – Oakland Athletics 4, San Francisco Giants 0

1988 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Oakland Athletics 1

1987 – Minnesota Twins 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1986 – New York Mets 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1985 – Kansas City Royals 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1984 – Detroit Tigers 4, San Diego Padres 1

1983 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Philadelphia Phillies 1

1982 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3

1981 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 2

1980 – Philadelphia Phillies 4, Kansas City Royals 2

1979 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

1978 – New York Yankees 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

1977 – New York Yankees 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

1976 – Cincinnati Reds 4, New York Yankees 0

1975 – Cincinnati Red 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1974 – Oakland Athletics 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

1973 – Oakland Athletics 4, New York Mets 3

1972 – Oakland Athletics 4, Cincinnati Reds 3

1971 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Baltimore Orioles 3

1970 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Cincinnati Reds 1

1969 – New York Mets 4, Baltimore Orioles 1

1968 – Detroit Tigers 4, St. Louis Cardinals 3

1967 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1966 – Baltimore Orioles 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 0

1965 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Minnesota Twins 3

1964 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

1963 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 0

1962 – New York Yankees 4, San Francisco Giants 3

1961 – New York Yankees 4, Cincinnati Reds 1

1960 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, New York Yankees 3

1959 – Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Chicago White Sox 2

1958 – New York Yankees 4, Milwaukee Braves 3

1957 – Milwaukee Braves 4, New York Yankees 3

1956 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1955 – Brooklyn Dodgers 4, New York Yankees 3

1954 – New York Giants 4, Cleveland Indians 0

1953 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 2

1952 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1951 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1950 – New York Yankees 4, Philadelphia Phillies 0

1949 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 1

1948 – Cleveland Indians 4, Boston Braves 2

1947 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 3

1946 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Boston Red Sox 3

1945 – Detroit Tigers 4, Chicago Cubs 3

1944 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, St. Louis Browns 2

1943 – New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Cardinals 1

1942 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 1

1941 – New York Yankees 4, Brooklyn Dodgers 1

1940 – Cincinnati Reds 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1939 – New York Yankees 4, Cincinnati Reds 0

1938 – New York Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 0

1937 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 1

1936 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1935 – Detroit Tigers 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1934 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1933 – New York Giants 4, Washington Senators 1

1932 – New York Yankees 4, Chicago Cubs 0

1931 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, Philadelphia Athletics 3

1930 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2

1929 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, Chicago Cubs 1

1928 – New York Yankees 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0

1927 – New York Yankees 4, Pittsburgh Pirates 0

1926 – St. Louis Cardinals 4, New York Yankees 3

1925 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Washington Senators 3

1924 – Washington Senators 4, New York Giants 3

1923 – New York Yankees 4, New York Giants 2

1922 – New York Giants 4, New York Yankees 0 (one tie)

1921 – New York Giants 5, New York Yankees 3

1920 – Cleveland Indians 5, Brooklyn Robins 2

1919 – Cincinnati Reds 5, Chicago White Sox 3

1918 – Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1917 – Chicago White Sox 4, New York Giants 2

1916 – Boston Red Sox 4, Brooklyn Robins 1

1915 – Boston Red Sox 4, Philadelphia Phillies 1

1914 – Boston Braves 4, Philadelphia Athletics 0

1913 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, New York Giants 1

1912 – Boston Red Sox 4, New York Giants 3 (one tie)

1911 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, New York Giants 2

1910 – Philadelphia Athletics 4, Chicago Cubs 1

1909 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Detroit Tigers 3

1908 – Chicago Cubs 4, Detroit Tigers 1

1907 – Chicago Cubs 4, Detroit Tigers 0 (one tie)

1906 – Chicago White Sox 4, Chicago Cubs 2

1905 – New York Giants 4, Philadelphia Athletics 1

1904 – Not held

1903 – Boston Americans 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

(Compiled by Frank Pingue; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)

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.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Although it won’t pitch beyond September, the San Diego Padres’ staff is having a say in the NL West race.

The last-place Padres surprised NL West-leading Arizona for the second straight night, winning 3-1 on Saturday as Wade LeBlanc and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and Orlando Hudson and Jeremy Hermida hit solo homers.

It was the second straight night the Padres held the Diamondbacks to five hits, also doing so in Friday night’s 2-0 win.

“We won two ballgames in a row. We’re going to come out tomorrow and try to keep it rolling,” LeBlanc said. “We’ve got some momentum, we’ve got some good pitching going. We got some timely hits that we need. We’re going to try to finish out the season strong.”

LeBlanc (4-5) allowed four hits, struck out four and walked three. Relievers Luke Gregerson and Chad Qualls each threw a scoreless inning before All-Star Heath Bell pitched the ninth for his 39th save in 44 chances. Bell struck out Justin Upton looking and got Miguel Montero to fly out to left before allowing a single to Paul Goldschmidt and walking Chris Young on four pitches. Bell ended it by throwing a called third strike past pinch-hitter Lyle Overbay on a full-count pitch.

A week earlier, Bell blew a save at Arizona by allowing consecutive ninth-inning homers to Young and Overbay, then Joe Thatcher walked in the winning run in the 10th inning.

“C.Y. and Overbay got me in Arizona so I wasn’t going to give in. I fell behind and made some good pitches off Lyle, right on the corner. C.Y., I didn’t make that good pitch, but then again I didn’t want him to shoot the ball into right. I wasn’t going to give in to those guys. I got Lyle instead of C.Y. I had a base.

“That’s kind of our motto, defense and pitching,” Bell added. “Good fundamental baseball and good pitching. We’re starting to get some good pitching from our starters, and our bullpen’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing.”

Manager Bud Black agreed.

“Our guys, from Wade on down, made pitches when they had to,” Bud Black said. “They were stressed a couple times, each guy with the exception of Chad, who had a 1-2-3. Wade’s ball-strike ratio wasn’t great, but through the game he made pitches when he had to. Came back from deep counts and got outs.”

The Diamondbacks came into the game with a magic number of six for clinching the division title. Any combination of Diamondbacks wins and San Francisco Giants losses totaling six will give Arizona the title. The defending World Series champion Giants were playing at Colorado on Saturday night.

Arizona lost its third straight game, its longest losing streak since dropping six from Aug. 17-22. The Diamondbacks also had only five hits in Friday night’s 2-0 loss at San Diego.

With the score tied at 1, Hudson homered onto the top of the out-of-town scoreboard on the right-field wall with two outs in the fourth, his seventh. It came on a full-count pitch from Josh Collmenter (9-10).

Hermida led off the seventh with a homer into the seats in right-center, one of the deepest parts of Petco Park. It was his second.

LeBlanc’s only mistake was allowing Aaron Hill’s solo shot to left-center on a full-count pitch with one out in the first, his second.

San Diego tied it in the second when Hudson hit a two-out single to right, advanced when Hermida was hit by a pitch and scored on Andy Parrino’s single.

Collmenter allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, struck out two and walked none.

NOTES: The Padres will wait a few days to determine whether RHP Tim Stauffer makes his next start. He left Friday night’s win with tightness in his right arm. … The series concludes Sunday with Arizona LHP Joe Saunders (11-12, 3.83) facing San Diego RHP Aaron Harang (13-6, 3.85). Harang has gone 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA in his last 10 home starts since May 19. … Saunders threw his first complete game of the season, and sixth of his career, in a 6-1 win against the Padres on July 26.

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.

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.

The former Mets All-Star 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 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 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.

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – 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 ½ 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.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

37.778143
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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 FRANCISCO (AP)—Giants outfielder Cody Ross(notes) wants his teammates to
openly talk about making the playoffs, even if the defending World Series
champions still have a lot of ground to make up.

At least now San Francisco has an offense to back up Ross’ confidence.

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

They still trail NL West-leading Arizona by 8 1/2 games but the outlook is a
lot more encouraging than it was a few days ago.

That’s why Ross wants San Francisco thinking big.

“Why not?” said Ross, who also singled, doubled and scored three times.
“We’re not going to give in. We’re the defending champs and we’ve got something
to prove. We’re going to play through and see what happens.”

Until recently, the Giants were only proving to be a big disappointment—at
least offensively.

But one day after scoring eight runs in a win over the Dodgers—the most
runs by San Francisco in more than a month—the Giants matched it against the
Padres.

It’s the first time the Giants, the majors’ lowest-scoring team since the
All-Star break, have done that in back-to-back games since the first two games
of the 2010 World Series.

“It’s good to see the guys loosen up and swing the bats like we’re capable
of,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re trying to finish up strong. We’re
hanging by a thread, but it’s not over.”

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

The Giants still harbor slim postseason hopes this year while the Padres are
just finishing out the string.

Aaron Harang(notes) (13-6), who was 4-0 in six previous starts against the Giants,
took the loss after allowing all three home runs. The burly right-hander remains
three wins shy of his career high.

“I felt like I couldn’t get comfortable out there the first few innings,”
Harang said. “Sometimes when you are hitting your spots in the bullpen it’s not
necessarily a good thing when you get (in the game). I just couldn’t get into a
good rhythm and it felt like I was off mechanically.”

Eric Surkamp(notes) (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(notes), 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.

Most of San Francisco’s offense came from the 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.

“It’s nice to get back-to-back games like this from the offense,” Ross
said. “It’s been a lot looser in here the last five or six days. Everyone’s not
so uptight and tense and trying to hard. Maybe that is the key.”

Beltran provided some early offense when he snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a
two-run shot off 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(notes).

Harang 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(notes) singled in Chris Denorfia(notes)
to cut the lead to 4-3.

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

Sergio Romo(notes), 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(notes) 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(notes) (ankle) played catch before the game and will head to Arizona to
start his next phase of rehab. … OF Will Venable(notes) 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(notes)
could get into the starting lineup in the next few days. … Black said an
ineffective slider is to blame for reliever Luke Gregerson’s(notes) 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(notes), 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(notes) (5-9), who
has dropped his last three starts, goes for the Padres.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Giants outfielder Cody Ross(notes) wants his teammates to
openly talk about making the playoffs, even if the defending World Series
champions still have a lot of ground to make up.

At least now San Francisco has an offense to back up Ross’ confidence.

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

They still trail NL West-leading Arizona by 8 1/2 games but the outlook is a
lot more encouraging than it was a few days ago.

That’s why Ross wants San Francisco thinking big.

“Why not?” said Ross, who also singled, doubled and scored three times.
“We’re not going to give in. We’re the defending champs and we’ve got something
to prove. We’re going to play through and see what happens.”

Until recently, the Giants were only proving to be a big disappointment—at
least offensively.

But one day after scoring eight runs in a win over the Dodgers—the most
runs by San Francisco in more than a month—the Giants matched it against the
Padres.

It’s the first time the Giants, the majors’ lowest-scoring team since the
All-Star break, have done that in back-to-back games since the first two games
of the 2010 World Series.

“It’s good to see the guys loosen up and swing the bats like we’re capable
of,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re trying to finish up strong. We’re
hanging by a thread, but it’s not over.”

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

The Giants still harbor slim postseason hopes this year while the Padres are
just finishing out the string.

Aaron Harang(notes) (13-6), who was 4-0 in six previous starts against the Giants,
took the loss after allowing all three home runs. The burly right-hander remains
three wins shy of his career high.

“I felt like I couldn’t get comfortable out there the first few innings,”
Harang said. “Sometimes when you are hitting your spots in the bullpen it’s not
necessarily a good thing when you get (in the game). I just couldn’t get into a
good rhythm and it felt like I was off mechanically.”

Eric Surkamp(notes) (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(notes), 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.

Most of San Francisco’s offense came from the 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.

“It’s nice to get back-to-back games like this from the offense,” Ross
said. “It’s been a lot looser in here the last five or six days. Everyone’s not
so uptight and tense and trying to hard. Maybe that is the key.”

Beltran provided some early offense when he snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a
two-run shot off 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(notes).

Harang 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(notes) singled in Chris Denorfia(notes)
to cut the lead to 4-3.

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

Sergio Romo(notes), 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(notes) 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(notes) (ankle) played catch before the game and will head to Arizona to
start his next phase of rehab. … OF Will Venable(notes) 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(notes)
could get into the starting lineup in the next few days. … Black said an
ineffective slider is to blame for reliever Luke Gregerson’s(notes) 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(notes), 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(notes) (5-9), who
has dropped his last three starts, goes for the Padres.

“He’s got a very high percentage, one of the highest in the game over the last three years,” San Diego manager Bud Black said. “It happens to the best of them.”

The Padres have lost 16 of 19 overall. At Chase Field, they’ve dropped 20 of 24.

“We do play hard,” Black said. “We go at it every night. I am extremely proud of the effort each and every night. The last couple of weeks have been tough. They just haven’t resulted in wins. As long as we keep fighting some things will go our way.”

Arizona’s ninth-inning uprising came seconds after the big screen showed Luis Gonzalez’s ninth-inning bloop single against Mariano Rivera that gave Arizona its World Series triumph and the state’s only major professional sports championship a decade ago. That team was honored in a pre-game ceremony, a group that included Overbay, a Diamondbacks rookie in 2001.

“Tonight was the perfect night to play the game that we played,” Young said. “You know, sold-out crowd, just all the energy from the 2001 championship team being here, it was amazing.”

The Diamondbacks stretched their franchise-record home winning streak to 15 games — the longest in the majors this season. They have won 16 of 19 overall.

It was the 42nd come-from-behind victory for the Diamondbacks, who widened their NL West lead over second-place San Francisco 9½ games after the Giants lost at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Milwaukee also lost, so Arizona moved a half-game ahead of the NL Central-leading Brewers for a possible home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

“To be able to hit two home runs of Heath Bell, has that ever happened in the ninth inning?” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson asked. “We were very fortunate to come back on a guy that’s so good, who has had so much success, yet we did it.”

The Padres protested the game because on the game-winning, bases-loaded walk Miguel Montero, who was on second, did not touch third base. However, crew chief Tim Welke said that the applicable rule requires only that the batter who walked touch first and the runner on third touch home.

“We think that all runners have to touch each base,” Black said, “so we filed a protest and it is in the hands of MLB at this point.”

James Darnell had three RBIs, including his first big league home run for the Padres.

“It was a great moment but I wish I could have dome more to help the team win. maybe get a couple of more hits or do something else,” he said. “You always want to win the ball game but for me personally, it was a great moment.”