Blunder cost Giants; Mariners tip A's

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pick a moment.

Andres Torres getting tagged out at home trying to score on a wild pitch. The usually reliable Matt Cain giving up a costly hit. Or another ninth-inning rally cut short.

The San Francisco Giants crumbled with self-inflicted blunders Tuesday night, losing to the San Diego Padres 5-3 for the second day in a row.

"It's frustrating to give the runs back," Cain said. "That's how the game goes, it changes at times."

Cameron Maybin had three hits and three RBIs, and Anthony Rizzo drove in two runs to power the Padres past the NL West-leading Giants by the same score two days in a row.

Maybin's triple highlighted a three-run sixth inning off Cain (7-5), who lost for the first time in more than a month. San Diego has won seven of nine.

Tim Stauffer (5-5) allowed three runs in six innings for his third straight victory. He allowed three hits and walked one.

"It's frustrating," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "You can look at how much trouble we're having getting guys in."

The Padres again used a formula that the defending World Series champions have replicated so many times: strong starting pitching, timely hitting and a bullpen with a flair for the dramatic that doesn't budge.

Miguel Tejada and pinch-hitter Pat Burrell started the ninth with singles off Heath Bell. Chris Stewart's sacrifice bunt moved them to third and second.

Then San Diego's All-Star closer struck out Torres and got Brandon Crawford to fly out to right field for his 26th save this season, tied for the major-league lead. The Padres improved to 33-0 this season when leading after eight innings.

Cain, who hadn't lost since May 29 at Milwaukee, seemed to be in complete control. After a two-out walk to Hudson in the sixth, he started to unravel.

Maybin smacked a ball into the left-center field gap for a two-run triple, and Rizzo followed with an RBI single to give San Diego a 5-3 lead. Backed by a strong bullpen, that was more than enough for the Padres.

"It kind of came down to that one pitch and I didn't make that pitch," Cain said. "It cost us the game."


Mariners 4, Athletics 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Franklin Gutierrez scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by Athletics shortstop Cliff Pennington in the 10th inning and Seattle held on to beat Oakland after a stellar performance by All-Star Felix Hernandez.

Gutierrez singled off A's closer Andrew Bailey (0-1) leading off the inning and stole second with one out. Brendan Ryan then hit a soft grounder to second baseman Jemile Weeks, who flipped the ball to Pennington for the force at second before Pennington's relay sailed wide of first base.

Adam Kennedy followed with an RBI double to make a winner of Brandon League (1-4), who blew a save in the ninth.

Jamey Wright earned his first career save in his 500th appearance. Hernandez struck out 10 over eight innings.

Kurt Suzuki homered for the A's, who have lost nine of 13.

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