SAN FRANCISCO — Johnny Cueto’s previous two complete games against the Padres were clinched on the mound. This one became official when Hunter Pence’s pop-up dropped in shallow right field in the bottom of the ninth.
Pence, who had such a sore hamstring during BP that he walked out of the cage, hit a two-out skyscraper to right with Brandon Belt on first. Matt Kemp let it drop and the ball was kicked away, allowing Belt to score the only run in a 1-0 win.
Cueto allowed just two hits. He has given up 13 hits and one run in 27 innings against the Padres this season.