Padres Prevent Giants’ Ascent

Woody Williams pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and drove in a run as the San Diego Padres prevented the San Francisco Giants from moving into first place with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Williams, who gave up two home runs in a 7-3 loss at San Francisco last Thursday, settled down after giving up Ellis Burks’ two-run homer in the fourth inning and retired 10 consecutive batters before a one-out single in the seventh.

A victory would have moved the Giants into first place by one percentage point over the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost to the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-3.

Williams (5-3) drove in the Padres’ first run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Williams, three for three in the loss at San Francisco, also singled in his first at-bat.

Williams gave up two runs, four hits and four walks. The right-hander struck out five.

Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 29 chances.

The Padres trailed, 2-1, when Ryan Klesko started the two-run sixth with a one-out bloop single and moved to second on Phil Nevin’s single. With the runners moving on a full count, Al Martin lined a single to right field that scored Klesko. Burks overran the ball to allow Nevin to score and give San Diego a 3-2 lead.