The San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey connects an RBI single against the San Diego Padres in San Francisco, California, Wednesday. (MCT)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― It didn’t take Tim Hudson very long to establish himself as the ace of the San Francisco Giants’ rotation.
One month into the season, the three-time All-Star is looking just as sharp and crisp as ever.
Not even a close play at first base that was eerily reminiscent to the one that resulted in a shattered right ankle last July was enough to rattle the right-hander.
Hudson and Sergio Romo combined on a five-hitter and the Giants beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Wednesday night.
“He just put on a clinic,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “He stayed down the whole game, had good movement, changed speeds and threw strike one. If you want to show young pitchers how to do it, that’s how you do it.”
Hudson (4-1) struck out six and didn’t walk a batter for the fourth time in five starts this season. The Giants’ most consistent starter in his first season with the club, Hudson has walked two batters in 46 innings.
The 38-year-old was one pitch from recording his first shutout in nearly two years before Yasmani Grandal’s two-out home run in the ninth.
“It was definitely an economical night,” Hudson said after throwing 89 pitches. “I was able to get down in the strike zone and stay down in the zone, work ahead in the count. Guys were making some good plays behind me. It was a fun night for us.”
Brandon Hicks homered and Michael Morse drove in his team-leading 20th RBI for the Giants, who finished 5-1 on their homestand.
Arizona 5, Colorado 4
San Francisco 3, San Diego 2
St. Louis 9, Milwaukee 3
Detroit 5, Chicago White Sox 1
LA Angels 7, Cleveland 1
Chicago Cubs 9, Cincinnati 4
Miami 9, Atlanta 3
Oakland 12, Texas 1
Kansas City 4, Toronto 2
LA Dodgers 6, Minnesota 4
Washington 7, Houston 0