Giants Win, Magic Number Is Two

The Giants are close to clinching the National League West division. The 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres brings them closer to returning back to the postseason.
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San Francisco, CA -- Winning their fifth straight game, the Giants are close to clinching the National League West division. The 5-1 victory over the San Diego Padres brings them closer to returning back to the postseason.

"We have to keep going on and play hard," Angel Pagan said. "We cannot think about the playoffs, we're just thinking about another game we have to win. Hopefully, if we win tomorrow, than it happens."

If the Dodgers lose and San Francisco wins, it can definitely happen. Ryan Vogelsong had a great start yielding one run and five hits in six innings. After a month of struggling on the mound the right-hander looked his best tonight.

"I'm going to sleep for the first time in about a month, I can tell you that," said Vogelsong. "Sometimes you have to look in the mirror and be honest with yourself, and the honest truth is, I haven't been very good for about a month."

In the last seven starts, Ryan's ERA has ballooned up to 10.31. Matched his career-high for wins in a season with his thirteenth tonight. Recording his second quality outing in his last eight starts, he was backed by great defense and the bullpen secured his win.

"He did a great job at pitching," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He used everything he had tonight, a great effort to get us back on track and the bullpen did a great job too."

The Padres only run came when Chase Headley blasted a solo home run in the fourth. But the was all of the offense that San Diego would get. They had a chance to tie the game in the sixth when Yasmani Grandal doubled with Headley on first but the defense from the Giants tagged Chase at home for the out.

"To me that was the turning point in the game," said Bochy. "Those types of plays win ballgames for you."

Pablo Sandoval continues to stay hot. He reached base in each of his four plate appearances, including two singles, a walk and a two-run homer that secured their victory. Sandoval has hit four homers in his last three games.

"I've been seeing the ball well, I'm not going to lie," Pablo said. "My confidence is back, I'm happy with the way I've been playing in order to help my team win games."

The offense got rolling behind Pagan's triple in the sixth. Marco Scutaro followed with a run-scoring single and Sandoval's home run. Scutaro went 1-for-3 with two walks, a RBI and two runs scored. He has hit safely in eleven consecutive games.

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