Posey's Slam Lifts Giants Past Padres 6-0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Bruce Bochy's plans to get some more offense into the Giants' lineup likely means less time behind the plate for Buster Posey.
San Francisco's' All-Star catcher doesn't mind the break.
With Andrew Susac starting at catcher and batting seventh, Posey moved to first base and hit his second grand slam in fivegames
Susac added two hits and scored twice as the Giants won at home for just the second time in their last 12 games at AT&T Park.
"He hasn't talked to me, but I have the understanding, we have the understanding, that it's about winning games
Posey hit his 11th home run of the season on a 2-2 pitch from San Diego starter Ian Kennedy (4-6) with two outs in the third inning. That came two batters after Joe Panik's sacrifice fly drove in Susac.
It's Posey's fourth career
"Especially two strikes there, I'm just trying to stay short and hit a line drive somewhere," Posey said. "Fortunately, it turned into a little more."
Ryan Vogelsong pitched six scoreless innings for his second straight win
San Diego's Matt Kemp went 0 for 4 with one strikeout while batting leadoff for the first time since 2010.
"You can't give them five outs," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy, whose club gave up five unearned runs in the loss. "I felt like we gave them the extra outs. If we played defense better, we wouldn't be talking about it."
Javier Lopez and George Kontos retired three batters each, while Jean Machi pitched the ninth for the Giants to complete the five-hitter.
Kennedy retired the first six hitters before Susac reached on an error by third baseman Will Middlebrooks. Gregor Blanco singled, and after both runners were sacrificed over, Angel Pagan walked to load the bases.
Panik followed with a sacrifice fly before Posey's home run.
Susac tripled and scored in the fourth to make it 6-0.
Vogelsong pitched out of a jam in the fourth after walking the leadoff batter and giving up a double to Justin Upton. Vogelsong got Derek Norris to strike out looking, fielded Will Venable's comebacker to catch Yonder Alonso in a rundown between third and home, then got Middlebrooks to ground out.
"He did a terrific job of pitching out of that," Bochy said. "He had to do that a couple times. He kept his poise and just made some great pitches."
Kennedy allowed six runs - one earned - and five hits in six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Dale Thayer was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. RHP Nick Vincentwas optioned to Triple-A El Paso. RHP Kevin Quackenbush and RHP Marcos Mateo were called up from El Paso. Both pitched in the game. ... RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
Giants: Leadoff hitter Nori Aoki was placed on the 15-disbled list with a small fracture in his right leg. The move is retroactive to June 21. Travis Ishikawa was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to take Aoki's roster spot. Ishikawa hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 5 of the NLCS for San Francisco last season. ... OF Hunter Pence (left wrist) had his brace removed.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP James Shields (7-1) will try to bounce back after suffering his first loss in his start against Arizona on June 19. Shields has had at least five strikeouts in all but one of his 15 starts this season.
Giants: RHP Chris Heston (7-5) pitches the finale trying to win for the first time in three games against the Padres. He has an 8.00 ERA in two previous starts against San Diego.
Updated June 25, 2015