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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco just happens to score runs
for Shawn Estes. A lot of runs.
Barry Bonds hit his fifth homer in four games and drove in three
runs as the San Francisco Giants beat San Diego 13-0 Thursday night
for their season-high ninth straight victory.
|  | | Barry Bonds drove in three runs for the Giants, including a two-run homer in the third inning. |
"I've been very fortunate that this team scores runs for me and
that's made it easier to pitch," Estes said. "I feel a lot more
relaxed and in control of my game. We're getting all the breaks,
but I don't want to analyze it. I just want to roll with it."
Ellis Burks added a three-run homer to give him 1,002 RBI for
his career, and Estes (14-4) pitched seven shutout innings to win
his ninth game in his last 10 decisions.
"I didn't realize I was at 999," Burks said. "With a
milestone like that, I'll take it. We moved another step closer and
we're happy about it."
Estes leads the majors in run support at 6.5 per game. The
Giants have scored 168 runs in his 26 starts.
"The way Estes has been throwing, we knew we needed a quality
start," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "They're on a great
roll right now. This game has a keen sense of the obvious: it was a
blowout."
Estes gave up five hits, walked one and struck out eight in
improving to 9-2 at home. He has beaten the Padres seven times in
his career, his most victories against any opponent.
"When you're winning, there's really no levels," Estes said.
"When you win, you're happy. When you lose, you're not. We've been
pretty happy the past three months."
The Giants extended their lead in the NL West Division over
second-place Arizona to a season-high 8{ games, the largest lead
San Francisco has had in September since a nine-game edge over
Cincinnati on Sept. 19, 1987.
"We're trying to pad the lead," Giants' manager Dusty Baker
said. "We're not looking backward. We're ahead and we want to be
more ahead. Winning perpetuates itself. This is what you play for
when everything is working."
Marvin Benard led off the third inning with a double, and Bonds
hit Matt Clement's 1-0 pitch out for his 44th homer of the season,
giving the Giants a 2-0 lead.
The Giants added another run in the fifth. Bill Mueller and
Bonds walked to open the inning. One out later, J.T. Snow singled
into right field to score Mueller.
Burks' 22nd homer of the season highlighted an eight-run sixth
for the Giants. Bobby Estalella led off with a walk. After Estes
sacrificed him to second, Benard singled him home. Mueller's single
ended Clement's night.
Todd Erdos was summoned to face Bonds, who drove in Benard with
an infield grounder. Jeff Kent and Snow followed with run-scoring
singles and Burks then hit a 2-2 pitch from Erdos into the left
field bleachers. Estalella capped the inning with his 14th homer.
"What can you say?" Bochy said. "They did everything and we
didn't do much of anything."
Clement (12-14) allowed six runs on seven hits in 5 1-3 innings
as the Padres had their three-game winning streak stopped. Clement,
who struck out five and walked six, is 1-4 in his last six starts.
Armando Rios and Juan Melo each singled home a run in the
seventh.
Game notes
The Padres recalled INF Gabe Alvarez from Las Vegas of the
PCL before the game. ... Clement, who leads the NL with 22 wild
pitches, is the only Padres starter not to miss a start this
season. ... Greg LaRocca became the 10th player to make his major
league debut with the Padres this season. He singled in the fifth.
... San Diego 3B Phil Nevin missed the game with a lower abdominal
strain. ... Estes leads the majors with 38 double plays induced.
... Bonds hit his 52nd career homer against the Padres. He's only
hit more against the Phillies (56). ... The Giants have 200 homers,
their most since 205 in 1987. ... The Padres tied an NL mark (Mets
in 1967, Phillies in 1996) by using their 53rd (LaRocca) and 54th
(Alvarez) different player of the year. ... The margin of defeat
equaled the Padres' worst of the season (14-1 to St. Louis on April
20). ... The Giants have a major-league high 14 shutouts this year,
their most since throwing 16 in 1989.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
San Diego Clubhouse
San Francisco Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 11
Minnesota 6
Tampa Bay 4
Cleveland 3
Anaheim 6
Detroit 4
Seattle 8
Toronto 1
Chi. White Sox 10
Texas 6
NY Yankees 7
Kansas City 3
St. Louis 6
Montreal 1
Houston 7
Florida 3
Atlanta 4
Arizona 0
San Francisco 13
San Diego 0
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