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Giant killers Benson, Manzanillo combine on one-hitter
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Pirates manager Gene Lamont was right when he thought some extra rest might help Kris Benson break an almost eight-week winless streak. Benson allowed one hit in eight innings to win for the first time since July 8, as the Pirates blanked the San Francisco Giants 8-0 Tuesday night. Benson (9-11) was 0-5 in eight starts since beating Minnesota just before the All-Star break. He was struggling with his control, which prompted Lamont to push his scheduled start back three days and give him more rest. The right-hander allowed only an opposite-field single to Barry Bonds in the first inning. Benson walked five, struck out seven and was lifted after throwing 119 pitches. Josias Manzanillo finished the one-hitter. "He had great stuff," Lamont said. "He was a little wild with the walks, but that probably had to with the fact he hadn't been out there in a while. He needed a win. Even though he was pitching pretty well, it's tough to go that long without a win." Benson welcomed the extra time off because he felt his command was slipping as he approached the 200-inning mark for the first time. "I'm sure the rest affected my control a little bit but I was able to stay down in the zone and get some groundballs," Benson said. "I was able to attack them with my fastball. That's definitely a plus when you feel strong out there and the ball is moving for you."
Benson had no regrets about the pitch that Bonds flicked off the end of his bat and into short left field. "It almost sounded like he broke his bat, although I don't think he did," Benson said. "It was a good pitch. I definitely wouldn't change the pitch on that one." Livan Hernandez (13-10), coming off consecutive shutouts of Atlanta and Florida, was knocked out before retiring a batter in the third inning -- his shortest outing in 107 career starts, except for injuries. He gave up three runs in the first inning, retired the side in order in the second, then was chased in the third when he allowed four consecutive extra-base hits. He allowed seven runs and seven hits in two-plus innings. "He was due for a night like this," Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "Everybody has them now and then. Randy Johnson just had one the other night." "I made some good pitches that they missed and they hit some good pitches," Hernandez said. "I don't know why it was. I wasn't thinking about a shutout or anything else. I just wanted to win the game. That's it." Enrique Wilson hit a two-run double in the first and scored on Warren Morris' single for a 3-0 lead. Adrian Brown opened the third with a double and scored on Jason Kendall's triple. Brian Giles doubled and John Vander Wal hit his 18th home run to make it 7-0. Morris added an RBI single in the fifth off Joe Nathan. The Pirates broke a five-game losing streak with their fourth win in 15 games. Notes: The last Giants pitcher to pitch more than two consecutive shutouts was Gaylord Perry, who had three straight in 1970. ... San Francisco 1B J.T. Snow went 0-for-3 and is in a 3-for-29 slump. ... Brown extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games. ... Wilson made his first start at third base in place of Aramis Ramirez, who went on the disabled list with a separated shoulder sustained in Monday's game. ... Vander Wal subbed at first for Kevin Young, who has a slight groin pull.
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