The 66-54 San Francisco Giants staved off the 52-70 San Diego Padres 8-7 Saturday after assaulting SD 10-1 in the opener. SF swung first and last thanks to Joaquin Arias' home run and Hunter Pence's RBI-double and how important Pence's double proved to be.

The Padres however responded to Arias' HR with Cameron Maybin's fielder's choice and Chase Headley's HR the next two innings to put San Diego ahead 4-1. San Francisco then registered four runs during the top of the fifth on Pence's and Marco Scutaro's sacrifice flies along with Arias' RBI-single and Pablo Sandoval's fielder's choice.

Carlos Quentin's HR to left field stunted momentum shortly for the Padres until the Giants swung the bats to begin the seventh. Posey's sac fly and Arias' RBI-single added to SF's Game Two advantage. SD struck for twon runs during the ninth inning with two outs to make the Giants sweat out the victory. Alexi Amarista and Clayton Denorfia RBI-singles supplied added drama late.

The Padres put the baseball into the hands of 9-12 Clayton Richard with a 3.91 ERA for Sunday. Richard has won his last three starts in San Diego wielding five runs to the 46-72 Chicago Cubs, 39-82 Houston Astros and 57-63 New York Mets during 24.1 innings. Richard also beat the 66-55 Los Angeles Dodgers and 56-64 Seattle Mariners at Petco Park by giving up nine runs, seven earned, during 20.2 innings. Richard's Petco losses are to the 73-47 Cincinnati Reds, 55-66 Miami Marlins, SF and 74-46 Washington Nationals letting in 17 runs, 15 earned, during 18 innings. As well Richard flopped to the Giants at AT&T Park courtesy of him bleeding for 11 runs during 12 innings. San Francisco is 56-for-161 with 20 RBIs against Richard.

10-6 Ryan Vogelsong with a 2.72 ERA gets the ball next for the reinvigorated Giants. Vogelsong is 2-0 in August on the road with SF's bats doing their jobs too cycling in 15 and 16 runs. Strangely in a Vogelsong home game Washington whipped Vogelsong and co. 14-2 on Aug. 13. Vogelsong allowed four runs during 13.1 innings earlier in August. Vogelsong also won at LA, Miami and Seattle seeing in six runs during 20.2 innings. In Vogelsong away losses the 62-58 Los Angeles Angels and 66-54 Pitsburgh Pirates popped in three runs apiece during seven innings each. Vogelsong won 7-1 at AT&T Park versus the Padres on July 23. SD is 7-for-28 with an RBI, Yonder Alonso's, versus Vogelsong. The Padres evade being swept with a gutsy win Sunday.