San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Tim Stauffer pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and the San Diego Padres remained in postseason contention with a 4-2 win over the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.
Padres-Giants, 4:10 P.M.: Padres Trying To Stay Alive In N.L. West, Wild Card Races
The Padres, who improved to 12-5 against the Giants this season and are 7-1 at AT&T Park, trimmed San Francisco's lead atop the division standings to one game. San Diego will also enter the final day of the regular season Sunday tied with Atlanta in the wild card race after the Braves lost to the NL East- champion Phillies on Saturday.
San Francisco still needs just one win to clinch its first playoff spot and division title since 2003.
Stauffer (6-5) gave up an infield single to the second batter he faced, Mike Fontenot, and didn't allow another hit until Juan Uribe launched his career- high 24th home run of the season with one gone in the seventh.
When Pablo Sandoval stroked a single to right field, Luke Gregerson replaced Stauffer and retired the next two batters to end the inning, preserving a three-run lead in the process.
Mike Adams tossed a 1-2-3 eighth for San Diego, and Heath Bell gave up consecutive one-out doubles to Pat Burrell and Uribe in the ninth before Sandoval cut the Giants' deficit to 4-2 with an RBI single. However, pinch- hitter Jose Guillen grounded into a game-ending double play.
Bell recorded his 47th save, tying him with San Francisco's Brian Wilson for the most in the majors.
Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito (9-14) lasted only three-plus innings. The veteran southpaw yielded four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and four walks.
San Diego jumped out to an early lead when Zito walked in two runs in the first inning.
Zito then gave up back-to-back singles to Miguel Tejada and Adrian Gonzalez to put men on the corners to begin the third. After the next two batters struck out, Scott Hairston reached first on Sandoval's throwing error which allowed Tejada to score.
Chris Ray took over on the mound for the Giants after Zito issued a leadoff walk to Stauffer in the fourth. A Chris Denorfia single and David Eckstein sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third before San Diego's lead grew to 4-0 on a run-scoring single by Tejada.
Stauffer ran into trouble in the sixth after the first two batters were quickly retired. A fielding error by third baseman Chase Headley on a ball hit by Fontenot extended the inning and Aubrey Huff drew a walk. Buster Posey, though, was called out on strikes to defuse the rally, leading to a vehement argument from San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who was subsequently ejected by home plate umpire Mike Everitt.
Bell has converted each of his last 34 save opportunities...The Giants have hit 18 home runs in their last nine games...San Diego finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
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