Watch CBS News

Sandoval Hits 3 HRs, Giants Trounce Padres

SAN DIEGO (CBS / AP) -- Pablo Sandoval hit three homers and drove in six runs Wednesday, leading a rare power show by the San Francisco Giants in a 13-5 win over the San Diego Padres.

Sandoval started the day with 10 home runs this season. He then hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning, a leadoff drive in the eighth and a three-run homer in the ninth.

Sandoval's only previous three-homer game came in the opener of last year's World Series. He wound up as the MVP of the Series.

The star third baseman also added a single against the Padres.

San Francisco hit six home runs overall. The Giants began the game tied with Miami for the fewest homers in the majors with 80.

Tim Lincecum (9-13) won again at Petco Park as the Giants avoided the three-game sweep. In Lincecum's first start at San Diego since throwing a no-hitter on July 13, he worked 5 2-3 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits in gaining his third straight win.

The Giants tagged Eric Stults (8-13), hitting three home runs in taking a 5-2 lead through four innings.

Brandon Crawford homered in the Giants third. Hunter Pence and Hector Sanchez hit two-run homers in the fourth.

Chase Headley and Ronny Cedeno homered for the Padres.

Pence's RBI double finished Stults in the fifth. Sandoval greeted reliever Brad Brach with a towering drive to right.

Stults' second-half woes continued as he absorbed his third straight loss. He last won on July 14 against the Giants.

The Padres pulled to 8-5 on RBI singles by Will Venable and Alexi Amarista in the sixth.

NOTES: The Giants' 13 runs were one shy of their season-high; their 17 hits two off their top showing of the season. ... Padres CF Cameron Maybin will undergo season-ending wrist surgery on Friday. He played in only 14 games this year because of knee and wrist injuries. ... Padres 1B Yonder Alonso received an injection in his right hand, which was hurt Friday on a check swing against the Dodgers. ... Headley returned to the lineup after missing six games with a sore back. ... Struggling Giants LHP Barry Zito has been demoted to the bullpen. ... Giants C Buster Posey was out of the lineup and is day to day after spraining his right ring finger on a wild pitch on Tuesday. Manager Bochy was optimistic regarding his availability on Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.