Josh Geer

MLB: San Francisco 9, San Diego 3

San Francisco, July 10: Bengie Molina staked San Francisco to a quick lead with a two-run homer in the first inning Thursday and the Giants coasted past San Diego 9-3.

The Padres lost their fifth straight.

San Francisco held onto its 2-0 advantage until the sixth, when the Giants blew the game open on solo homers by Travis Ishikawa and Juan Uribe, along with a two-run double by Pablo Sandoval.

Tim Lincecum (10-2) took a shutout into the seventh, but wound up surrendering two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings.

The loss went to Josh Geer (1-4), who was touched for six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3.

Lincecum struck out eight to run his National League-leading total to 149. He is in a position to challenge for his second consecutive Cy Young Award.

MLB: San Diego 3, Chicago Cubs 1

San Diego -- Josh Geer gave up one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings Saturday, leading the streaking San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory against the Chicago Cubs.

His effort helped San Diego record its eighth straight win.

Geer (1-1) threw 107 pitches, did not walk a batter and struck out seven.

Reliever Edward Mujica worked the ninth to earn his first career save.

Brian Giles led San Diego with a two-run double in the fourth inning. Chris Burke hit a seventh-inning RBI single, one of just five hits for the Padres.

San Diego last won eight straight during a nine-game winning streak from April 30-May 8, 2006.