Brewers Bedeviled by Giants

The San Francisco Giants are doing what the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t.

“We got some two-out hits, picked up a runner at third with less than two outs and played an overall very good game,” San Francisco Manager Dusty Baker said after Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the Brewers.

After winning Friday’s opener of the three-game series by hitting four home runs, the Giants used run-scoring triples by Rich Aurilia and F.P. Santangelo to back Livan Hernandez.

The Giants opened the scoring against Kyle Peterson (1-4) in the second inning on a single by Stan Javier and a strange two-out triple by Aurilia, whose line drive veered left and past a startled Marquis Grissom in center.

“It was a devil’s ball,” Grissom said. “The devil was all over the field today.”

Aurilia also was surprised.

“When I left the batter’s box, it was right at him,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. If I could figure out what I did right there, I’d try and do it all the time.”

Marvin Benard doubled and scored on a one-out triple by Santangelo in the third inning for a 2-0 lead. The Brewers avoided further damage when catcher David Nilsson picked Benard off third with Barry Bonds batting.

Hernandez (7-11) gave up six hits and struck out eight in eight innings, and retired 11 consecutive batters at one point. He gave up more than one hit in only the third inning.

“Livan was outstanding,” Baker said. “There were some very tough decisions out there, but when you get a quality guy like [Hernandez], it makes it easier to make those decisions.”

Milwaukee scored its run in the third when Mark Loretta singled, moved to third on Nilsson’s double and scored on a groundout by Grissom.

The Giants added three runs in the ninth off Mike Myers and Rocky Coppinger, with the help of four walks. Aurilia hit a sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Ellis Burks hit a two-run single.

Peterson, who lost 2-0 to Houston in his last start, gave up five hits and no walks in seven innings. He almost didn’t pitch because of a sore back.

The Brewers, who haven’t hit a home run in 12 games, a team record, hope to break loose soon.

“It’s very frustrating,” Milwaukee Manager Jim Lefebvre said. “When you get pitching like that, it’s important to get some offense going. We just aren’t getting it done.”