SAN DIEGO -- Pablo Sandoval hit his first home run since May 21, and All-Star Madison Bumgarner settled down to allow just four hits in seven innings as the San Francisco Giants beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 Thursday night in a matchup of the worst teams in the weak NL West. The defending World Series champion Giants, who snapped a four-game losing streak, have been in a free-fall since June 15. They had lost 19 of 24 games coming in and were a season-high 10 games under .500. They started the night two percentage points behind the Padres and ended it by jumping past San Diego into fourth place. Bumgarner (10-5) allowed two runs on three hits in the first inning and then retired 14 in a row before Carlos Quentin singled with two outs in the sixth. The lefty struck out six and walked one. The Giants are 2-8 in July, with Bumgarner getting both wins. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances. The Padres have lost 16 of 19. Sandoval got San Franciscos weak offence going in the fourth with a leadoff homer to right-centre off Jason Marquis, his ninth. It was Sandovals first homer in 101 at-bats. Sandoval, who was on the disabled list from June 9-24 with a strained left foot, was 6 of 55 (.109) before that at-bat. The Giants had the bases loaded three times in the sixth and seventh innings but scored only one run. Marquis took a 2-1 lead into the sixth and struck out Buster Posey leading off the inning before loading the bases and allowing Kensuke Tanakas RBI single up the middle. Marquis made way for Joe Thatcher, who got Brandon Crawford to hit into a force at the plate. Dale Thayer came on and struck out Bumgarner to end the inning. The Giants loaded the bases again in the seventh on two singles and a hit batsman, and Thayer again got out of trouble by striking out Belt to end it. San Francisco finally broke through in the eighth with two runs and three hits off Luke Gregerson (4-5), including an RBI double by Blanco that bounced over the fence in left, and Poseys RBI single to left. Bumgarner settled down after a rough first inning in which he allowed two runs on three hits. Quentin hit an RBI double and, after Jesus Guzman was intentionally walked to load the bases, Kyle Blanks drove in a run on a fielders choice. Bumgarner got Logan Forsythe to line out to second to end the inning. Marquis failed for the fifth time to get his 10th victory. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, struck out three and walked two. NOTES: The Giants have won 10 of Bumgarners last 11 starts against the Padres. ... The four-game series continues Friday night when right-hander Sean OSullivan makes his debut for his hometown Padres against San Francisco RHP Chad Gaudin (2-1, 2.44 ERA). OSullivan, who graduated from Valhalla High in suburban El Cajon in 2005, was signed by the Padres as a minor league free agent in December. It will be his first big league start since Sept. 27, 2011, with the Royals. ... Padres 1B Yonder Alonso is expected to be in the starting lineup for Fridays game He has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a broken right hand. Jason Kidd Suns Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Richaun Holmes Suns Jersey ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. http://www.officialsunsfanstore.com/jamal-crawford-suns-jersey/ .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Kelly Oubre Jr. Jersey . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Shaquille ONeal Suns Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. DENVER -- Tyler Anderson warmed up and took the mound for his start on Tuesday. A rain storm, postponement and restless nights sleep later, he returned to the hill.This outing was well worth the wait.The left-hander pitched efficiently into the seventh inning, Nolan Arenado kept up his torrid August with another RBI and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-0 in the opener of a doubleheader Wednesday.Anderson (5-5), with his deceiving motion, allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings against the NL West leaders. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second in the teams first shutout at home this season.It was nice, Anderson said. Tiring, but it was good.Anderson actually tossed a few warmup pitches Tuesday before the first inning. But a relentless downpour blanketed the area, leading to a postponement after a delay of 2 hours, 32 minutes. He tried to stay loose by lightly throwing and riding the stationary bike. Thats why he was losing steam late in the game.Anderson gave us everything he had, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. When you have a doubleheader, you want to get every out from your starter you can. He did a great job.Arenado had a run-scoring double in the first, giving him 34 RBI this month. Its the most for August in Rockies history, passing the mark of 33 set by Andres Galarraga in 1996.Ross Stripling (3-6) surrendered three runs over six innings.Ross pitched well enough for us to win and you know left-handed pitching has been our Achilles heel, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. Our situational at-bats need to get better.Colorado has taken the first two games in the series from the Dodgers. This is the fifth series the Rockies have captured from a first-place team in August. Theyre the only team in the majors with a positive run differential (plus-26) and a losing mark (64-68).Pinch-hitter Stephen Cardullo hit his first career homer in the seventh -- on his birthday, no less. The 29-year-old Cardullo spent the last few seasons playing for an independent team in New York before signing a minor league contract with Colorado in January. He joined the Rockies last week after hitting .308 with 17 homers for Triple-A Albuquerque.ddddddddddddWhat a special feeling, said Cardullo, who got the ball from the fan who caught it.Andersons quirky delivery gave the Dodgers fits all afternoon. He briefly pauses before throwing to the plate.The 2011 first-round pick wiggled his way out of a sticky situation in the sixth when he had runners on first and third and one out. He struck out Adrian Gonzalez -- the top daytime hitter in the majors this season -- and then fanned Rob Segedin with a changeup.Anderson trotted back out for the seventh, and left to an ovation with one out and two on. Chris Rusin bailed him out by striking out pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disk irritation) had a successful outing in a simulated game Tuesday and now is in a momentary holding pattern. We havent made the decision as far as what his next progression will be, Roberts said. ... LHP Scott Kazmir (neck stiffness) will be slotted into the rotation when hes eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 7.Rockies: 1B Mark Reynolds (broken bone in left hand) was activated off the 15-day disabled list and entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh. To make room, INF Daniel Descalso was put on the paternity list. ... RHP Tyler Chatwood (back strain) will start Saturday.EXPANDED ROSTERSRoberts gave an early glimpse of his plans for September call-ups. The Dodgers will add catcher Austin Barnes, righty Louis Coleman, lefty Luis Avilan -- who will serve as the 26th man Wednesday for the second game -- and righty Josh Ravin. Missing from that list is outfielder Yasiel Puig, who was demoted to the minors in early August.With Yasiel, thats still a possibility, but were trying to figure out whats best for him and whats best for us, Roberts said.UP NEXTThe Dodgers scratched lefty Rich Hill (10-3) from the start in Game 2, going with righty Bud Norris instead. The team was concerned about a blister on his left middle finger. Colorado went with righty Jeff Hoffman (0-2). ' ' '
