Ninth-inning Homers Propel Giants to Series Win

(Sept. 30, 2012) -- Home runs by Xavier Nady and Hunter Pence fueled a three-run, ninth-inning rally Sunday that pushed the Giants to a 7-5 triumph over the Padres in San Diego.

 Trailing 5-2, the Giants scored a pair of eighth-inning runs. Aubrey Huff drew a leadoff walk before Pence, Brandon Belt and Hector Sanchez singled consecutively. Belt's hit drove in pinch-runner Francisco Peguero before Brandon Crawford's sacrifice fly scored Pence.

 Then came the Giants' big ninth against Padres closer Huston Street. With one out, Nady's sixth career pinch-hit home run tied the score. Peguero's wicked one-hopper off shortstop Everth Cabrera's glove went for a single. Up came Pence, who bashed a 1-1 pitch over the center-field barrier. It was the 24th homer of the season and second in two games for Pence, who has 45 RBIs in 56 games as a Giant.

 Earlier, Giants' starter Tim Lincecum yielded three home runs in his final tuneup for a possible Division Series start. Lincecum worked six innings and allowed only four hits, but three of them went the distance. Logan Forsythe drilled a two-run homer in the third inning, Yasmani Grandal went deep leading off the fourth inning and Chase Headley hit his 31st homer of the season to open the sixth inning.

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