San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Aubrey Huff scored the only run on a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh inning, and San Francisco earned a share of first place in the NL West with a 1-0 victory over San Diego.
Freddy Sanchez had two hits for the Giants, who improved to 6-2 on their 10- game road trip against division foes and have won eight of their last 10 games overall. San Francisco had not been in first since May 6.
"This is where we feel like we should be. We got a good group of guys here," San Francisco catcher Eli Whiteside said.
Jonathan Sanchez gave up one hit over five innings for the Giants, but the erratic left-hander tied his career high with seven walks. Santiago Casilla (7-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up the win, while Brian Wilson recorded the final five outs to collect his 42nd save of the season, a new personal best.
Nick Hundley had two of the Padres' three hits. Starter Clayton Richard (12-7) deserved a better fate after he scattered two hits through six-plus frames.
San Diego has now dropped 12 of 15.
"We picked a bad time not to score him (Richard) any runs. He's been throwing the ball great for us all year," Hundley said.
The race for the NL West title could come down to the last series of the year. These two teams will face off for the final time October 1-3 at AT&T Park.
But don't discount the surging Colorado Rockies, winners of eight straight. They are a mere 2 1/2 games off the pace in the division standings.
San Diego had two men on in the second, fourth and fifth innings, but failed to deliver a clutch hit.
Luke Gregerson replaced Richard on the mound after the latter hit Huff with a pitch to begin the seventh. One out later, Jose Guillen hit a grounder to Miguel Tejada, and Huff beat the shortstop's throw to third base with a feet- first slide. Huff then scored when the Padres were unable to turn a double play on Juan Uribe's grounder to third.
Mike Adams put the first two Giants on with base hits in the eighth, but escaped the jam by fanning the next three batters.
Wilson took over on the mound after Javier Lopez gave up a one-out single to Adrian Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning. Wilson got Tejada to ground into a fielder's choice and pinch-runner Everth Cabrera was gunned down attempting to steal second to end the frame.
The Giants had an opportunity to extend their lead in the ninth. Nate Schierholtz led off with a double and Uribe reached on an infield hit. After Schierholtz was erased on a force play at third, Whiteside hit a chopper back to reliever Ryan Webb, whose throw to second was dropped by Cabrera, loading the bases for Wilson. The Giants closer hit a comebacker to Webb, who fired home for the second out. The inning ended, however, when Uribe was called out on interference for grabbing the catcher Hundley's leg.
Wilson pitched around a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth.
Wilson is tied with Tampa Bay's Rafael Soriano for the most saves in the majors...After going 8-19 against the NL West to start the season, the Giants have won 21 of their last 31 games against the division...The Padres have been held to four or fewer runs in 14 straight games... San Diego still holds a 9-4 record against the Giants this season.