SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- San Francisco's Jerome Williams pitched
for the first time in two weeks and didn't make it out of the third
inning in the San Diego Padres' 6-4 victory over the Giants on
Saturday.
Missing much of the spring to be with his ailing father in
Hawaii, Williams made his first appearance since March 5, when he
allowed five runs in one inning. He has also pitched in a
minor-league game.
"It seems like ages since I have been out there," Williams
said after allowing three runs on five hits over 2 1-3 innings.
"It felt good just to be out there."
The right-hander benefited from several defensive plays to help
limit the damage. Khalil Greene was thrown out at the plate twice,
the first time when he broke for home on a grounder to Giants third
baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, whose throw to Mike Matheny easily beat
Greene. A failed squeeze play did in Greene in the fourth.
"You have Gold Gloves all over the field," Williams said.
"That gives you more confidence to know if you don't give up a
home run, those guys will gobble it up."
Williams, who walked one and struck out one, also said he was
glad to be back in a normal routine.
"I was a little rusty," he said. "I have to get the feel for
it again. It doesn't matter if I have two weeks or a month as long
as I keep working hard."
Giants closer Armando Benitez made his first back-to-back
appearances.
"They asked me if I could pitch today and I said I was ready,"
Benitez said. "I felt good."
Benitez allowed a hit in a scoreless inning and had not allowed
a run in his last five appearances.
Greene had three hits and drove in two runs, including the
go-ahead run in the sixth.
Padres starter Brian Lawrence allowed three runs on six hits
over four innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Game notes
Padres OF Dave Roberts was scratched from the lineup to
protect his sore groin because of possible wet field conditions.
... Padres OF Phil Nevin went hitless for the first time in nine
games. ... Giants OF Pedro Feliz singled in the ninth and has hit
safely in 12 of his 13 games.