Hernandez Does It All in Giant Victory

Now Livan Hernandez likes April.

Hernandez has two victories in April in the same season for the first time. He pitched a four-hitter, had three hits and drove in two runs Sunday to lead the San Francisco Giants over the San Diego Padres, 10-1, at San Francisco.

Even with Barry Bonds given a day off, Hernandez helped the Giants (6-0) remain the only undefeated team in the major leagues. They are off to their best start since 1930 and have outscored opponents, 41-5.

“I’m trying to do more to win more in April,” said Hernandez, who began the season with a career record in April of 4-13 and an earned-run average of 6.03.

Hernandez (2-0) has given up three runs in 17 innings this season for a 1.59 ERA.

“Everything is perfect now,” he said. “Last year was tough for me. I had a lot of things on my mind. I want to win 10 games in the first half.”

Jeff Kent, in his second game back from the disabled list, hit his first home run of the season and drove in two runs.

Hernandez (2-0) struck out five and walked one in his first complete game since last Aug. 17, retiring 11 in a row at one point. He is batting .714 (five for seven) with three runs batted in--only three Giants have driven in more runs.

“That was the Livan Hernandez show,” San Diego Manager Bruce Bochy said. “He pitched great and he swung the bat. He has a short swing, swings through the ball and puts the ball in play.”

Padre pitcher Brian Tollberg (0-2) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in six-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 15.57.

“I’m not used to getting out of the gate this slow,” he said. “I don’t feel right mechanically and it’s frustrating that way.

“The game just got out of hand.”

About the only bad news for the Giants was that shortstop Rich Aurilia had to leave the game because of a strained left groin after sliding into second base in the third inning.

Atlanta 5, New York 2--Marcus Giles hit a three-run homer in the 14th off Saturo Komiyama (0-1) as the Braves avoided a three-game sweep by winning the longest game by innings and time at Turner Field, which opened in 1997.

Albie Lopez (1-1), Atlanta’s eighth pitcher, pitched two scoreless innings in the game that lasted 4 hours 59 minutes.

The Mets, who had won the first two games of the series, scored two runs in the sixth off rookie left-hander Damian Moss, starting in place of the injured Greg Maddux.

Houston 7, St. Louis 6--Daryle Ward hit a leadoff homer in the 12th off Luther Hackman (0-1) as the Astros won at Houston.

Houston rallied from a 6-3 deficit in the ninth against Mike Timlin on Jeff Bagwell’s RBI double and Richard Hidalgo’s two-run single.

Ricky Stone (1-0) pitched two hitless innings and struck out three.

Jim Edmonds hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals and also stole home as part of a ninth-inning double steal.

Philadelphia 3, Florida 2--Pat Burrell homered off Braden Looper (0-2) leading off the 11th innning to win it for the Phillies at Philadelphia.

Cliff Floyd’s homer off Jose Mesa in the ninth gave the Marlins a 2-1 lead. But the Phillies tied it on Mike Lieberthal’s one-out RBI single.

Pittsburgh at Chicago, ppd.--The game between the Pirates and Cubs was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 21 at Wrigley Field.