PHOENIX (AP) - Tim Hudson was backed to his old self with his new team.
Hudson allowed three hits while working into the eighth inning in his first start for the Giants and San Francisco beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Hudson (1-0) was making his first start since July 24 after fracturing his right ankle against the Mets while pitching for the Braves. The veteran right-hander, who signed with San Francisco as a free agent in the offseason, had four strikeouts and no walks, and had Arizona hitters pounding the ball into the ground.
“After a couple of month from my surgery, I know coming back was a definite possibility,” Hudson said. “You get anxious but I wouldn’t call it butterflies. You just anxious to get back out there.”
Hudson showed solid command of his first pitch and threw that first offering for strikes.
“He really attacked the zone,” said catcher Buster Posey, who went 2 for 4 night with a run scored. “I’m sure he was anxious but didn’t show it. He’s been doing this for so long that he controls his emotional very well.”
Arizona starter Trevor Cahill (0-1) held the Giants scoreless until the fifth. Angel Pagan singled in a run in the fifth and Michael Morse doubled in a run in the sixth to make it 2-0.
Sergio Romo shut down the Diamondbacks in order to record his second save.
The Diamondbacks threatened only twice with Hudson on the mound.
After Hudson retired the first nine hitters, Gerardo Parra led off the fourth with a single to center, moved to second on a wild pitch but was stranded when Paul Goldschmidt struck out and Martin Prado flied to center.
In the seventh, Goldschmidt led off with a double but Hudson retired Prado on a fly to right, Miguel Montero flied to left and Mark Trumbo struck out.
Hudson tossed 103 pitches and improved to 8-1 against Arizona. He is 5-1 at Chase Field.
“You have to tip your hat to (Hudson), he threw a great game,” Arizona second baseman Aaron Hill said. “He didn’t give us a good pitch to hit all night. He just made his pitches.”
Notes: With his seventh inning double, Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 24 games, tying Tony Womack for second in franchise history behind Luis Gonzalez (30 games) . Arizona RHP David Hernandez successfully underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and begins rehab in Phoenix. . Arizona OF Cody Ross, on DL since March 22, will start for minor league Triple-A Reno Thursday on rehab assignment. . Tim Lincecum will start Thursday for San Francisco and Bronson Arroyo for Arizona.
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