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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Russ Davis realized what he was up against.
|  | | The Giants had plenty to celebrate after Russ Davis belted his first career grand slam Monday in a shutout of Florida. |
Davis hit his first career grand slam to support Mark Gardner,
who pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings as the San Francisco Giants beat
the Florida Marlins 6-0 Monday night for their seventh win in eight
games.
Davis, pinch-hitting for Marvin Benard, connected on the first pitch from Armando Almanzar in the eighth inning.
"While I was warming up in the tunnel, I heard (Giants
announcer) Jon Miller say he was one of the best coming out of the
bullpen," Davis said. "I just went in with a clear mind and was
looking away, but the pitch came in on me. I knew I hit it good,
but I thought the guy had a chance to catch it. I was just trying
to squeak a run out of it with a sacrifice fly or something."
Davis entered the at-bat with just one hit in 21 previous
pinch-hit appearances.
"It's been a long time. Pinch-hitting is not my game, but I
gave it it my best effort," said Davis. "If I can come up with a
big hit every now and then, I'll be happy."
Ellis Burks had a run-scoring single in the fourth off Ryan
Dempster (11-9), giving him nine RBIs in three games, and came home
on J.T. Snow's double for a 2-0 lead.
The Giants loaded the bases with one out in the eighth against
Braden Looper, who walked J.T. Snow and pinch-hitter Felipe Crespo
around a single by Rich Aurilia. Davis broke open the game with his
slam.
San Francisco, which improved its home record to 42-19, got its
10th shutout, tying Boston for the most in the major leagues. The
Giants also have the best home ERA (3.22) in the majors.
"When you're pitching good, you feel good," said Giants
manager Dusty Baker. "Gardner is still pretty strong because he
doesn't have a lot of innings behind him. He's a guy who's stayed
ready and seized the opportunity."
Gardner (9-6) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out
two. He's allowed one run in his last 13 2/3 innings.
Felix Rodriguez and Robb Nen combined for 2 1/3 innings of
two-hit relief.
"I got my mechanics locked in right now," said Gardner.
"Starting suits me more. Going back and forth to the bullpen can
wear you down. I've been a starter most of my career."
Florida got just one runner past first. Luis Castillo reached
second base with two outs in the sixth but was stranded when
Preston Wilson struck out.
"Gardner knows what he's doing out there," Florida manager
John Boles said. "He's intelligent and that sets him apart."
Dempster lost for the first time in five starts since July 25,
giving up two runs and eight hits in seven innings. The Marlins lost
their third straight.
"I didn't have my best stuff but they only got two runs," said
Dempster. "Gardner threw a great game. There's nothing you can do
but tip your hat to him. I was pitching against a guy with brains.
It's fun watching him pitch. You learn so much because he's not
overpowering. He just keeps moving the ball in and out and getting
ahead of the batter."
Wilson, in a 3-for-17 slump (.176) during his last four road
games, has gone a season-high 31 games and 122 at-bats since his
last home run, on July 18 at Baltimore. He's hitting .197 during
that span.
Game notes
Florida was blanked for the fifth time, twice against the
Giants. ... Giants RHP John Johnstone, on the DL since July 20 with
lower back pain, allowed a run on two hits in one inning in his
first rehab appearance with Single-A San Jose. ... Wilson struck
out for the 157th time and is on a pace for 205, which would break
Bobby Bonds' major league record, set in 1970. ... The Marlins are
11-23 against the NL West, their worst against any division.
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