SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Rene Rivera remembers his last home run, three years ago next month at Oakland for the Minnesota Twins.
His latest will certainly be memorable, too, and did plenty to give San Diego’s inconsistent offense a boost.
Rivera hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth to follow his two-run double for a career-high five RBIs, single handedly backing Tyson Ross in the Padres’ 6-4 victory against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.
“Sooner or later our hitting’s going to come around,” Rivera said. “We needed this one. It’s a good feeling. It’s good for the team.”
Ross (3-3) did just enough over 5 1-3 innings to beat the Giants for the second time in 11 days, allowing eight hits and four runs with four strikeouts and two walks.
After Michael Morse put San Francisco ahead on two-run single in the fourth, Rivera answered with his first homer of the year. He hadn’t driven in a run all season before Monday, and the five RBIs were most by a Padres player at 15-year-old AT&T Park.
“We needed a game like that from one of our guys,” manager Bud Black said. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve had a hard time scoring runs in bunches.”
Brandon Hicks homered for the second straight day, following his walkoff a day earlier against Cleveland with a leadoff shot in the fifth. Hunter Pence hit an RBI triple in the fourth.
First base umpire Angel Hernandez had two calls overturned by replay.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy came out in the third to request a review after Hernandez called Xavier Nady safe on a close play at first. The umpiring crew overturned the call in 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Hernandez was involved in another overturn in the fourth when Black requested a review. Ross was ruled thrown out by third baseman Pablo Sandoval. In 1:18, the call was overturned and Sandoval was charged with an error.
Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (2-3) walked a season-high four, and his four earned runs matched his most of 2014. He didn’t pitch into the sixth for the third time in his six starts and lost three straight outings for the first time since Aug. 25-Sept. 5, 2012.
The Giants had won seven straight home games against the Padres started by the lefty.
“I think it’s fair to say he’s made a few more mistakes than we’re accustomed to,” Bochy said. “A strange night. We just couldn’t get it done.”
Ross, born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, faced the minimum through three - helped by double plays in the first and second then two strikeouts in the third.
The right-hander pitched eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in his April 18 win against San Francisco at Petco Park as San Diego took two of three from its division rival.
“It’s always nice to come back home and get a win,” Ross said. “The defense was great tonight and got me out of a couple jams, and the offense came to play.”
Alexi Amarista drove in an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Huston Street, San Diego’s fourth reliever, then finished for his 10th save in as many tries and 35 of 36 dating to last May. He lowered his ERA to 0.82.
NOTES: A moment of silence and a video tribute were held before the game for Hall of Fame Padres broadcaster Jerry Coleman, who died in January at 89. Another moment of silence was held for victims of the ferry disaster in South Korea as the Giants celebrated Korean Heritage Night. … San Diego OF Seth Smith missed his third straight start as he nurses a strained groin sustained Thursday night against the Nationals. He could return this series. … Chase Headley, out since April 25 with a strained right calf, is improving and took some swings in the indoor cage. … Padres INF/OF Tommy Medica was recalled from Triple-A El Paso three days after being optioned and flying from Washington, D.C., to Sacramento. “That’s the Schwarzenegger special, Sacramento to D.C.,” Black said of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Medica couldn’t get off the plane in time Monday morning to avoid a trip to Los Angeles then a second flight back to San Francisco. He took the roster spot of INF Jedd Gyorko, who went on the paternity leave list.
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