Estes Rediscovers Last Year’s Form

Shawn Estes went back to last year’s pitching form, and once he did, it didn’t take long to get similar results.

Rediscovering the mechanics that made him a 19-game winner last season, Estes got his first victory Tuesday as the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1.

Estes (1-4) retired 15 consecutive batters after giving up Tony Womack’s single to start the game. He gave up two hits in 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts as San Francisco won its season-high fourth consecutive game.

Jeff Kent and J.T. Snow hit home runs, the first given up this season by Francisco Cordova.

Estes said he and pitching coach Ron Perranoski studied videos comparing his throwing style from last year to this season.

“We noticed a big difference in my arm angle and where my head was going,” he said.

The game was marked by a bench-clearing episode in the third inning that grew out of a brushback pitch by Cordova that knocked Estes down.

Plate umpire Frank Pulli stepped in to warn Estes not to retaliate and then warned the Pirates about throwing at Giant batters.

Estes then grounded out and the incident appeared to be over. But Barry Bonds and Pirate coach Lloyd McClendon began yelling at each other and both eventually had to be restrained.

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NEXT UP FOR FOR DODGERS

WHO: Pittsburgh Pirates

WHERE: at Pittsburgh

WHEN: Thursday, 4 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m., Saturday, 4 p.m., Sunday, 10:30 a.m.