SAN DIEGO (AP) - Their early 3-0 lead long gone, the San Francisco Giants got some big plays late to had the free-falling San Diego Padres their sixth straight loss.
Gorkys Hernandez hit a go-ahead home run leading off the 12th inning, Will Smith struck out the last four San Diego batters and Austin Slater had a big play at first base as the Giants beat San Diego 5-3 Monday night.
“Great win,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We had the lead and give them cedit, they found a way to come back. But we hung in there with some gutty efforts there by everybody. We’ve had some tough losses, so it’s good to win one like this on the road. Hard-fought by all those guys out there.”
The Padres had runners on first and third with one out in the 11th and failed to score. Instead, they dropped to 2-8 since the All-Star break and lost for the 13th time in 15 games. San Diego is 5-19 in July.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the 11th, San Diego’s Austin Hedges bunted for the second out. Pitcher Sam Dyson fielded it and made a low throw to Slater, who picked it out of the dirt. Freddy Galvis advanced to second, but Christian Villanueva wasn’t able to score from third.
“He threw it low and Slater picked us up,” Bochy said.
Will Smith (1-1) came on and struck out Carlos Asuaje. He then struck out the side in the 12th.
“That’s big. The winning run’s on third,” Smith said. “You definitely don’t want to cash in your buddy’s runs, that’s for sure. You’ve got to bear down and make some good pitches there.”
Hernandez homered to left on a 1-2 pitch from Matt Strahm (2-3), his 13th. The Giants got another run on Buster Posey’s fielder’s choice blooper.
Watching the ball go out was “awesome, because we had the lead,” Smith said. “Twelfth inning like that, a game we really need to win, that was a big momentum swing. The dugout was loud, pumped up. He crushed it, so it was a big jolt for us.”
The Giants had a scoring chance in the 10th, when Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch from Kirby Yates with two outs. He took third when Buster Posey’s comebacker caromed off Yates’ glove and the pitcher threw it away at first for an error. However, Yates got out of the jam when Evan Longoria popped up to second base.
Asked if Hedges bunted on his own, manager Andy Green said: “That situation right there I’ve got confidence in him swinging the bat and I’ve got confidence in him laying the bunt down. So he’s got the ability to do both, and that one just didn’t work out for us.”
San Diego tied it with one out in the eighth when rookie Christian Villanueva doubled in Eric Hosmer, who singled with one out.
The Giants took an early lead on Chase d’Arnaud’s three-run home run after rookie lefty Eric Lauer allowed singles to Brandon Crawford and Austin Slater opening the inning. It was the fifth for d’Arnaud, who played 22 games with San Diego last year.
San Diego cut into the deficit on Hunter Renfroe’s leadoff homer in the fourth, his eighth, and Manuel Margot’s fly ball off the glove of left fielder Hernandez in the fifth. Margot was credited with a sacrifice fly and Hernandez with an error. It brought in Austin Hedges, who hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a sacrifice.
Derek Holland pitched into the sixth inning for the Giants, allowing two runs and four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks. He was lifted after walking Hosmer leading off the sixth.
Lauer went five, allowing three runs and seven hits, with three strikeouts and two walks.
FULL DAY
Joe Panik had two at-bats for Triple-A Sacramento before flying to San Diego after being recalled by the Giants. He popped up as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
QUICK TRIP
Bochy arrived in San Diego at about 11 a.m. Monday after attending the Hall of Fame induction of former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman on Sunday. “It was a hit and run,” Bochy said of going coast-to-coast twice in just more than 48 hours. He took a redeye Saturday night after the Giants’ game in San Francisco, arriving in Cooperstown, New York, at about 11:30 a.m. He stayed in Cooperstown Sunday night to attend a dinner with Hoffman’s family and friends. Bochy managed Hoffman for 12 years with the Padres. Bench coach Hensley Meulens managed the Giants to an 8-5 victory Sunday against Milwaukee.
HOT CORNER
Padres outfielder Wil Myers was taking grounders at third base before the game. Green said not to read too much of it. Still, Myers, San Diego’s first baseman before Eric Hosmer was signed, could be a defensive upgrade over Villanueva.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Placed RHP Johnny Cueto on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right elbow. Bochy said there’s a “strong possibility” Cueto will need reconstructive surgery. INF Pablo Sandoval (strained right hamstring) also went on the DL.
UP NEXT
Giants: Rookie RHP Dereck Rodriguez (5-1, 2.75 ERA) is scheduled to start the matinee series finale. He didn’t factor in the decision in his start against San Diego on June 24, a 3-2 Giants win in which he held San Diego to one run and four hits in seven innings.
Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (7-10, 5.05) is 0-2 with a 14.63 ERA in his two starts since the All-Star break. He didn’t factor in the decision in either of his starts against the Giants this year.
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