Beltran Hits 1st Homer With Giants In Win Over Padres
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- Carlos Beltran shook of the pain around his right wrist to hit his first home run since being traded to San Francisco, powering the Giants past the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Beltran returned to the starting lineup and sent a fastball from Tim Stauffer (8-10) over the wall in right field in the fourth for his 16th home run of the season. The solo shot was the first of his career at AT&T Park.
Tim Lincecum (12-10) struck out seven and walked five in eight innings, pitching out of the stretch again the entire game. He gave up three hits and also had the go-ahead RBI single.
Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
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The biggest and best news for the Giants, however, was the rapid return of its once splashy signing.
Beltran, acquired in a July 28 trade with the New York Mets, strained his hand and wrist swinging against Philadelphia's Roy Oswalt on Aug. 7. The hard-hitting right fielder was activated from the disabled list Tuesday and popped out in his lone pinch-hit appearance.
Beltran was back to batting third in the lineup in the finale of a quick two-game set against San Diego. He singled and finished 2 for 4.
Nothing delighted the home fans more than giving Beltran a standing ovation after his fourth-inning shot put San Francisco ahead 1-0. Giants fans are hoping Beltran can awaken a slumping offense and help carry the defending World Series champions back to the playoffs.
If nothing else, they hope it's a sign of good things to come after weeks of little support.
Rookie Brandon Belt led off the fifth with his first career triple. Two batters later, Lincecum hit a chopper over the first baseman to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.
After Cameron Maybin singled to start the sixth for the Padres, Beltran again found himself at the center of another big play. He dove for a ball near the right corner and missed, allowing Orlando Hudson to slide in for a triple and San Diego to slice the deficit to 2-1.
The Padres never could mount anything offensively.
The Giants avoided having to face closer Heath Bell, who they claimed off waivers. San Diego has 48 hours from the time Bell was claimed to decide whether to work out a trade with San Francisco, allow him to be claimed or pull him back from waivers.
NOTES: Home run king Barry Bonds was sitting with his son in box seats near the Giants dugout. He snagged a foul ball in the eighth inning. ... U.S. women's soccer team members Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe were in attendance. Both were wearing Panda hats, which Giants fans often wear in support of 3B Pablo Sandoval. ... The Padres optioned RHP Pat Neshek to Triple-A Tucson. ... RHP Ryan Vogelsong (10-3, 2.47 ERA) starts for the Giants against Houston's RHP Henry Sosa (0-2, 6.35 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday. ... San Diego is off Thursday and begins a three-game series at Arizona on Friday.
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