Leake's homer sends Giants to sweep
SAN FRANCISCO -- Mike Leake tossed six-plus strong innings Sunday and clubbed his second homer of the season, a go-ahead three-run shot in the second, powering the San Francisco Giants to a 10-3 win over the San Diego Padres and completing a three-game sweep.
Leake allowed three runs on four hits, picking up his first win in a Giants uniform as San Francisco remained 7 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West race. The right-hander got late support from Buster Posey, who doubled in a run in the fifth inning and walked to drive in another in the seventh.
"He helped win his own ballgame," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He can hit. He got a pitch he could handle and we needed it at that point. Great game by Mikey. Here he is pitching in the seventh inning after those first two innings. That's impressive and that's experience that probably came in handy there."
Video: SD@SF: Bochy on Leake's pitching performance, homer
Odrisamer Despaigne struggled while filling in for the injured Colin Rea. Despaigne lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits and a walk.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Leake's long ball: The Giants' starting pitcher got in a hole early, surrendering three runs in the first two innings before San Francisco answered with four runs in the bottom of the second. The big bang was Leake's three-run homer, which gave the Giants the lead. It was the eighth home run hit by Giants pitchers this season.
Video: SD@SF: Giants take the lead on Leake's three-run shot
"I look at myself as part of the nine hitters," Leake said. "I felt like I helped whoever was pitching, and it happened to be me."
A first for everything: Padres rookie outfielder Travis Jankowski is known for his speed, not his power. But Sunday, he turned on a pitch from Leake, lifting it high over the fence in right field in the second inning for his first big league home run. It was also only his fourth home run in his first 1,489 professional at-bats.
Video: SD@SF: Jankowski gets silent treatment after home run
"I wasn't thinking it was gone off the bat. When I got to second base, the umpire said it was a home run, I thought, 'Oh, that's cool.' It was a new feeling," Jankowski said. More >
Wally's World: Padres first baseman Brett Wallace continues to look like someone who could be a nice fit for 2016. Wallace has produced off the bench and in spot starts in a small sample size, hitting over .300, and Sunday he knocked in a run in the first inning with a double, his 15th RBI in 67 at-bats.
Pagan resurrected: Angel Pagan seems to be moving much better since returning from the disabled list Sept. 1. On Friday, he robbed Matt Kemp of a home run in spectacular fashion. He homered Saturday and stole a career-high three bases Sunday, becoming the first Giant since Gregor Blanco on May 14, 2014, to swipe three bags in a game. He also added two singles and three runs in the win.
Video: SD@SF: Pagan sets career mark with three stolen bases
"He's a different player when he's healthy," Bochy said. "It's obvious he feels good right now and he's playing great ball. You see a difference in how he's getting down the line and just moving around. It's good to see Angel back on track." More >
QUOTABLE
"They schooled us this weekend in every facet of the game." -- Padres interim manager Pat Murphy, noting the Padres were outscored 27-4 and their pitchers issued 19 walks in the three-game series.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
On Saturday, the Padres had to wait until the 24th batter of the game until they got their first hit -- a pinch-hit single by Melvin Upton Jr. off Madison Bumgarner. On Sunday, they didn't have to wait nearly as long, as Yangervis Solarte tripled two pitches into the games and later scored as the Padres took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame.
Video: SD@SF: Gyorko pushes across the Padres' first run
WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: The Padres will open a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. PT on Monday against the D-backs at Chase Field. James Shields (11-6, 3.90 ERA) gets the start. He has allowed nine earned runs in 12 innings against the D-backs this season, all in Phoenix.
Giants: San Francisco welcomes the Cincinnati Reds to AT&T Park for Monday's opener of a three-game series beginning at 7:15 p.m. PT. Tim Hudson makes his 19th start of the season. He's 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA in nine career starts against the Reds.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.