Tim Hudson roughed up again in 5-0 Giants loss (w/video)

SAN DIEGO - Tim Hudson allowed four runs in the first inning and the San Francisco Giants were held to three hits in a 5-0 loss to San Diego on Friday night that dropped them 3½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.

Even so, the Giants’ magic number to clinch a wild-card spot dropped to four thanks to Pittsburgh’s 4-2 victory against Milwaukee. The Dodgers won 14-5 at the Chicago Cubs.

The Giants had only three base runners in seven innings against Padres rookie Odrisamer Despaigne (4-7). The Cuban defector walked Angel Pagan opening the game and retired the next nine batters before allowing Joe Panik’s double just inside first base leading off the fourth. Despaigne retired the next eight batters before Panik singled to left with two outs in the sixth. Despaigne struck out six and walked one.

Hudson (9-12) lost his third straight start, guaranteeing the first losing record in his 16-year big league career. He allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in 4? innings, with two strikeouts and two walks.

It wasn’t as bad as last Saturday night, when Hudson had the worst start of his career, lasting just one inning plus two batters in a 17-0 home loss to the Dodgers. He allowed six runs and eight hits while making 35 pitches.

Hudson got into trouble right away when he loaded the bases with one in the Padres’ first, allowing singles by Yangervis Solarte and Jedd Gyorko and walking Yasmani Grandal. Hudson got Seth Smith to fly out to right, but Alex Amarista hit a two-run double into the gap in right-center. Cameron Maybin hit a two-run single to center before he was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Padres added an unearned run in the third when Gyorko reached on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Pablo Sandoval and scored on Smith’s double to right.

NOTES

Pagan was back in the lineup after missing three straight games with a bulging disc in his back that was irritating a nerve. After Wednesday’s game in Arizona, “He said, ‘I’m playing Friday, no matter what,’” manager Bruce Bochy said.

Padres: Manager Bud Black said closer Joaquin Benoit is available again after not having pitched since Aug. 26 due to a sore right shoulder.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Yusmeiro Petit 5-4, 3.64 ERA), who took Tim Lincecum’s spot in the rotation, is scheduled to start tonight as he tries to bounce back from a loss to Dodgers.

Padres: RHP Andrew Cashner (4-7, 2.20) is 2-1 with 1.85 ERA in five starts since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 23.