San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain takes a moment to get up after slipping on the mound after delivering a pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Friday, April 18, 2014, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Don Boomer)
SAN DIEGO — Years later and some 500 miles to the south, Tyson Ross still considers the San Francisco Giants to be rivals.
Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland, where he later pitched for the A’s, Ross beat the Giants for the first time in six career appearances by throwing eight scoreless innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 2-1 victory Friday night.
“East Bay, man,” Ross said. “That was a lot of fun. I grew up an A’s fan, so that rivalry’s definitely there. The Giants were the rival at heart for me growing up.”
Ross held the Giants to four hits, struck out nine and walked one. The Padres handed Matt Cain his third straight loss.
Ross (2-2) beat Cain five days after topping AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and the Detroit Tigers. The right-hander was rarely in trouble, despite allowing a leadoff double to Angel Pagan. Ross then retired the next eight batters. He walked one.
“From there he really made pitches. I thought his stuff was outstanding,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “He was in a pitching duel with one of the proven National League pitchers in Matt Cain, and matched him.”