SAN FRANCISCO _ Paul Clemens had not been feeling well leading up to his latest start. Flu-like symptoms had pestered him since his previous appearance, disrupting his preparation. San Diego Padres manager Andy Green said, tongue in cheek, that he was hoping for a performance reminiscent of Michael Jordan in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals, "where a guy's kind of a little bit under the weather and shows up and pitches really well."
Monday was a reminder that baseball is a funny game, filled with unexpected twists. A weakened Clemens responded from two abbreviated starts by making another one, albeit with much greater success. The right-hander shrugged off a number of loud outs, holding the San Francisco Giants scoreless for five innings. Former Giants catcher Hector Sanchez launched a two-run homer, narrowly missing a foul pole. The Padres ended an 11-game losing streak at AT&T Park, denting the hosts' playoff chances in a 4-0 shutout.
Clemens appeared to be in some discomfort during his final inning. He fanned Conor Gillaspie for his first strikeout, then squatted on the mound for a few seconds. He stood and pitched on. Opposing pitcher Jeff Samardzija drilled a double. Clemens induced a popout and froze Angel Pagan with strike three. He walked to the dugout having thrown 74 pitches, having limited the Giants to three hits and a walk. He would not return to the mound.
The 28-year-old's Padres debut had been marked by an inability to pitch deep into games. In 10 previous starts this season, he had recorded an out in the sixth only once. After his most recent cameo _ a four-inning stint in which Clemens' velocity tailed off _ Green said he would have to find a way to sustain longer or be relegated to a bullpen role.
Monday provided some answers while raising more questions about the pitcher's health. Clemens, despite a couple drives to the warning track, did not yield a hit until the fourth. He touched 93 mph in the fifth.
Just before the bottom of the sixth, Green emerged from the dugout. Clemens did not. The manager engaged home-plate umpire Chris Conroy in conversation as reliever Brandon Morrow warmed in the bullpen. After several pitches, Morrow jogged to the mound. No reason for Clemens' exit was immediately disclosed.
The Padres pressed on in his absence. Morrow spun a scoreless frame, preserving a four-run lead. San Diego had built it with a few bursts of offense.
In the fourth, Luis Sardinas notched the first hit by either side, a leadoff triple. Yangervis Solarte scored him with a single.
In the fifth, Clemens reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Sardinas single.
In sixth, Sanchez took Samardzija deep, hooking a drive just inside the right-field foul pole. As he rounded the bases, a fan behind home plate stood and applauded. Sanchez spent parts of five seasons here.
With his current team, he has produced in a small sample size. Monday's home run, Sanchez's third in the season, came in his sixth start for the Padres. He also singled twice, finishing with three hits for the first time since 2014.
The Padres' shutout victory was their ninth of the season and their first at AT&T Park since June 23, 2014.
