San Francisco shuts out Bucs in series finale

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO

Aubrey Huff saw teammate Mark DeRosa spread out on the ground signaling him to slide into home, so he obliged. At last, Huff had the inside-the-park home run he’s long coveted.

“I was already gassed, so I really didn’t need that,” Huff said.

“He could have come in standing up,” teammate Eli Whiteside said with a grin.

Huff made his first homer with the Giants an exciting one and Jonathan Sanchez struck out 11, leading San Francisco past the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 on Wednesday.

Whiteside hit a three-run shot later in the second inning and Aaron Rowand hit a two-run shot a few innings after them.

Huff’s homer highlighted the day. He hardly considers himself a speedster — he tried to steal six times last year and was caught all six times.

“When I hit it, I thought it was gone anyway. In most parks it is,” Huff said. “I saw it bounce off the wall and as soon as I rounded first I saw it took an amazing hop right. I’m like ‘Oh boy, here we go. If I am going to hit one out I’m going to try to get a cheapie.”’

Sanchez (1-0) matched his career best with 11 Ks in eight scoreless innings. The Giants improved to 7-2, their best start since beginning 8-1 in 2003 — their last playoff season.

Huff led off the second with a drive that hit the arch on the facade in right-center, known in the pitcher-friendly park as Triples Alley. The ball ricocheted into right field and gave Huff ample time to round the bases.

Huff’s sixth-inning double clanked off the wall just right of the first spot and caromed back toward center.

He also hit a deep fly to center in the third that looked as if it might go out.

PIRATES 6, GIANTS 5

Garrett Jones had three hits and two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, as Pittsburgh beat San Francisco on Tuesday night.

Akinori Iwamura and Andy LaRoche homered for the Pirates, Evan Meek (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win and Octavio Dotel allowed two runs in the ninth before finishing for his second save in two opportunities.