SAN DIEGO _ A pitchers' duel took on dual meaning Wednesday at Petco Park.
San Diego Padres starter Travis Wood backed his reputation as a pitcher with an idea at the plate, homering to break a scoreless tie. San Francisco Giants starter Ty Blach singled in his first at-bat and doubled in his second. Craig Stammen, who entered in relief of Wood, was credited with a single when a shallow fly ball bounced off the glove of Joe Panik.
At that point, pitchers were 4-for-4. All others were 5-for-31. The position players, at least for one team, would come around.
In the Padres' 5-0 victory, left fielder Jose Pirela matched Wood in career home runs by launching one in the sixth. First baseman Wil Myers, up next, ripped a double and scored on a wild pitch. Stammen and three other relievers combined to finish a shutout.
Non-pitchers for San Diego started 1-for-16. Wood collected the Padres' first hit in resounding fashion. Swinging at a 1-1 change-up from Blach, he jogged the Giants' memory.
Wood's third-inning solo shot was his 10th career home run in a regular-season game. His most memorable blast, though, arrived last Oct. 8 in the second game of the National League Division Series.
The left-hander had been thrust into early relief because of an injury to Kyle Hendricks. His first at-bat ended with the second homer by a reliever in postseason history. The Chicago Cubs proceeded to beat the Giants, 5-2, roughly three weeks before they won their first World Series since 1908.
On Wednesday, the left-hander added to the misery of San Francisco's disappointing 2017. His home run traveled 392 feet to left, a single swing providing a 1-0 lead.
Wood was not nearly as efficient on the mound. He threw more than 20 pitches in each of his first three innings, working deep into counts and issuing a trio of walks. After his 97th pitch was redirected for a single, manager Andy Green went to his bullpen.
Stammen parachuted into the top of the fifth. The bases were loaded with one out. Hunter Pence struck out on a foul tip. Nick Hundley grounded out to second. Stammen, who had come in with an 85 percent strand rate, left a trio on base.
Wood was fortunate to be credited with 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He had permitted six hits and four walks, striking out just one batter. He also had supplied the game's only run.
The home offense did not stay dormant.
Pirela, one of eight Padres to bat in the sixth, was out in front of another 1-1 change-up from Blach, but succeeded in muscling a towering drive to left. The 10th home run of his surprising season reached the second deck of the Western Metal building.
Myers, who has disappointed even as Pirela has thrived, followed with a double, his first extra-base hit since Aug. 17. He moved to third on a groundout, then scored on a wild pitch.
A two-out walk by Jabari Blash preceded consecutive singles by Cory Spangenberg and Austin Hedges. The Padres took a 4-0 lead.
Blash lashed an RBI single in the eighth. He reached base in all four of his plate appearances.
The Padres bullpen recorded 14 outs. Stammen retired all five batters he faced. Buddy Baumann submitted a perfect inning. Kirby Yates notched two strikeouts in the eighth but also issued as many walks. Brad Hand took the mound in the eighth, en route to a four-out save.
