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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, May 29, 2010

Cain's one-hitter spurs Giants, 5-0

 •  Fines for all in wake of balk call



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Matt Cain struck out nine and threw 122 pitches over nine innings of work.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Cain stood in the on-deck circle preparing to bat during the middle of the game when a fan hollered to let him know he had given up all of one hit.

Cain knew he was cruising along, but pushed it from his mind.

That two-out double in the second by Mark Reynolds was all the Diamondbacks could manage against Cain, who pitched his second one-hitter in the San Francisco Giants' 5-0 victory over Arizona last night.

"It felt good from the beginning. I just tried to keep doing that and tried not to think a lot," Cain said. "I was definitely able to locate both sides of the plate."

Cain has pitched back-to-back complete games, but he tossed eight outstanding innings and still lost, 1-0, at Oakland last Saturday on an unearned run.

"You try to take what happened in the last start and get better from it," he said.

Manager Bruce Bochy never even had to warm up a reliever.

Pablo Sandoval hit a solo home run leading off the eighth, ending a 124 at-bat homerless drought dating to his last drive April 21 at San Diego. Sandoval also had a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, giving him a season-best three RBIs.

Sandoval told Cain before the game it was time the free-swinging slugger start contributing home runs in Cain's start like he did in a breakout 2009 season.

Yes, he all but called his shot.

"I'm happy," Sandoval said. "He throws the ball well and it's one of those games you want to help a little more."

Cain (3-4) struck out a season-high nine to end a three-start losing streak. He didn't walk a batter for the first time since his first start of the year.

REDS 15, ASTROS 6

Drew Sutton hit his first grand slam to extend Cincinnati's streak with at least one homer in 17 consecutive games, and Sam LeCure gave up six hits and two runs in six innings to beat visiting Houston in his big-league debut.

BREWERS 2, METS 0

Corey Hart ended the Mets' shutout streak at 35 innings with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and Yovani Gallardo (5-2) spaced eight hits in pitching his first career shutout as Milwaukee ended New York's five-game winning streak.

PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 2

Ryan Howard had two hits and scored Philadelphia's first run in 31 innings on a triple by Raul Ibanez, and Chase Utley drove in Shane Victorino with a ground out to snap a 2-all seventh-inning tie as visiting Phillies beat Florida.

CARDINALS 7, CUBS 1

Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina each drove in a pair of runs, and Chris Carpenter (6-1) gave up an unearned run and seven hits with five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings to lead visiting St. Louis over Chicago.

DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 4

Manny Ramirez broke out of a slump with a go-ahead two-run homer to cap a four-run top of the sixth inning as Los Angeles beat Colorado. The homer was Ramirez's 549th career home run and first at Coors Field.

BRAVES 7, PIRATES 3

David Ross and Chipper Jones each drove in three runs, Derek Lowe (7-4) gave up only one run, four hits and one walk in seven innings to lead host Atlanta over Pittsburgh. Lowe improved to 9-0 in nine career starts against Pittsburgh.

NATIONALS 5, PADRES 3

Josh Willingham hit a three-run home run, Ian Desmond had a solo shot and John Lannan (2-2) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings to win for the first time since April 10 as visiting Washington defeated San Diego.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ATHLETICS 5, TIGERS 4

Landon Powell homered and drove in two runs to help visiting Oakland beat Detroit. Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career, but it wasn't enough.

YANKEES 8, INDIANS 2

Phil Hughes (6-1) allowed two runs and five hits over seven strong innings and Robinson Cano hit a grand slam to lead host New York past Cleveland. Cano had three hits while manning the clean-up spot for Alex Rodriguez, who got the day off.

WHITE SOX 4, RAYS 2

Freddy Garcia (4-3) give up two runs and four hits in seven innings, and Alex Rios hit a two-run homer to lift visiting Chicago. Tampa Bay's David Price (7-2), trying to become the AL's first eight-game winner, allowed three runs over seven innings.

ROYALS 12, RED SOX 5

Yuniesky Betancourt hit a grand slam to cap a seven-run fourth inning and David DeJesus had four hits to power visiting Kansas City over Boston. The Royals pummeled Tim Wakefield (1-3) for 12 hits and nine runs in just 3 2/3 innings.

BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 0

Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells hit solo home runs, and Shaun Marcum (5-1) allowed six hits in six innings as host Toronto beat Baltimore. Shawn Camp worked the seventh, Casey Janssen pitched the eighth, and Kevin Gregg finished to give Toronto its fifth shutout.

TWINS 2, RANGERS 1

Kevin Slowey (6-3) allowed a run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, Joe Mauer had an RBI single in the third inning and hit into a double play to score a run for a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth as host Minnesota held off Texas.

MARINERS 8, ANGELS 3

Cliff Lee (3-2) allowed three runs and four hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings and Milton Bradley drove in three runs to propel visiting Seattle past Los Angeles. Two-time All-Star Scott Kazmir (3-5) gave up six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

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