Pirates gain 2-0 win over Giants

Reggie Sanders' two-run double in the eighth was the difference.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Although Reggie Sanders believes the San Francisco Giants will win plenty of games with Sidney Ponson on the mound, he prevented his former teammates from winning the first one.
After Ponson pitched seven scoreless innings in his impressive San Francisco debut, Sanders hit a two-run double in the eighth to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-0 victory Wednesday night.
Sanders couldn't suppress his excitement at slowing down the Giants, who allowed him to leave in the off-season. The Giants, who won the NL pennant with Sanders in right field, seem headed to the postseason again, while Sanders probably will be watching them from home in October.
"Ponson is going to be a great pickup for them, but Josh [Fogg] pitched so well for us tonight that he deserved the win, too," Sanders said.
"I'm not going to sit here and lie and say it's not [great]. Every time you step in between those lines, you want to do well -- but especially against your former team."
Not much support
Ponson (0-1), acquired by the NL West leaders in a trade with Baltimore last week, allowed seven hits and retired 10 straight during one stretch. But the Giants couldn't give him a lead against Fogg, who was even sharper while pitching six shutout innings.
In the eighth, Jason Kendall doubled and Brian Giles was intentionally walked to get to Sanders, who hit Ponson's 109th pitch over Barry Bonds' head in left. The double scored both runners and snapped the Pirates' 19-inning scoreless streak.
Ponson then tipped his cap to the Pacific Bell Park crowd after he was removed.
"I was a little nervous in the first inning, but after I got the first guy out, it was back to the same feeling," Ponson said. "Their pitcher threw a good game against us."
The Pirates won for just the fourth time in their last 21 games in San Francisco, while the Giants lost at home for just the second time in their last 15. San Francisco is 13-6 since the All-Star break.
Julian Tavarez (1-3) pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the victory, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced. He twirled and punched his fist as the final out was recorded in his first victory since last Aug. 30, when he was a starter with Florida.
Ponson was 14-6 with a 3.77 ERA with Baltimore this season. San Francisco expects long starts and dominant performances from Ponson -- and the affable right-hander was everything the Giants expected in his debut.
"He's got a lot of resources," San Francisco manager Felipe Alou said. "He's got a good sinker, he gets double plays, he's got a good changeup and good command of his fastball. But we didn't score any runs. ... I'll take a two-run outing every time."
But Fogg matched Ponson's every pitch, retiring 11 straight after Ray Durham's leadoff single.
He needed just 57 pitches to complete his six innings, allowing three hits and a walk while rebounding from two mediocre starts in which he allowed 11 runs.
"I felt great out there," Fogg said. "The way I've been throwing, I'll take a no-decision with a team win every day of the week."
Durham returned to the Giants' lineup after missing three games with a hip injury, but was replaced by Cody Ransom in the third inning after reaggravating his strained right hamstring.