Perhaps no one's been more responsible for that success than Mat Latos.
San Francisco (66-51) came into this series with a chance to move into first place if it could sweep San Diego (68-46), which starter Jonathan Sanchez boldly predicted would happen.Watch San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants MLB-str3am | Live Stream 14/8
After the opener, though, it's the Padres who have a chance to sweep. Chase Headley drove in two runs off Sanchez and Heath Bell got his fourth save in four days in San Diego's 3-2 win.
The Padres have outscored the Giants 30-18 in winning eight of nine in the series, holding them to two runs or fewer in each victory.
"It was intense out there. That's the way our games have been going against them," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "They're shutting us down and winning these tight games."
Two of those come with Latos (12-5, 2.36 ERA) on the mound, including his outstanding performance May 13 in San Francisco. The right-hander surrendered only a sixth-inning infield single to Eli Whiteside while striking out six in a 1-0 victory.
Overall, Latos is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in three starts against San Francisco. Whiteside (3 for 7) and Pablo Sandoval (3 for 9) are the only Giants to have some semblance of success against Latos.
Latos will likely see a new face in the lineup Saturday. San Francisco acquired outfielder Jose Guillen from Kansas City on Friday, a risky move for a player hitting .151 since the All-Star break who has a history of disrupting clubhouses.
"He's a talented player who can come in and help in so many ways," second baseman Freddy Sanchez said. "We have a fun clubhouse. At the end of the day everybody wants to win."
The Giants hope Guillen can help solve Latos, who is seeking his 11th straight start allowing two runs or fewer. He held Arizona to two hits over six scoreless innings in a 10-1 win Sunday, tying Jake Peavy's 2004 franchise record at 10 in a row.
Latos walked four -- all in the first three innings -- before settling down.
"It was me not being aggressive, not going after guys, nitpicking," Latos told the Padres' official website. "I need to trust myself and get back to going after hitters."
Latos has walked two Giants in 22 innings.
San Diego gets its first look in 2010 at rookie Madison Bumgarner (4-4, 3.36), who made his major league debut against the Padres on Sept. 8. The left-hander gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings before leaving without a decision in the 4-3 loss.
Bumgarner had a four-game winning streak in which he posted a 1.35 ERA shortly after he came up in June, but he's been just average lately. He's 0-2 with a 5.74 ERA in his last three starts after allowing three runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-3, 11-inning win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
Headley came into the series a .185 hitter against lefties, but had two hits off Sanchez. He's 2 for 2 with two walks against Bumgarner, who's 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA in three home starts.
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