Padres look to avoid sweep in Wednesday matinee

Rookie Chris Heston is next in line as the San Francisco Giants try to match a franchise record with a fourth consecutive shutout.

The Giants are enjoying win streaks of five straight overall and eight in a row at home and send Heston to the mound Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres.

San Francisco (14-13) can match the franchise record set from June 25-28, 2012, if it posts another shutout. Heston, who is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in three home starts, has some tough acts to follow in the Giants' rotation.

This shutout streak began Sunday when Tim Lincecum worked eight innings in a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. San Diego (14-14) was then blanked 2-0 on Monday when Madison Bumgarner went 7 1-3 innings and 6-0 on Tuesday when the previously struggling Ryan Vogelsong lasted seven.

"It's good to see these guys starting to get locked in and that's a good offensive club we're going against too and it's all about making your pitches and these guys have been doing that," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Heston (2-2, 2.51 ERA) made his first major league start in the 2014 regular-season finale against the Padres, allowing three runs over four innings in a 9-3 home victory.

The right-hander appears to be a far better pitcher this year, earning a spot in the rotation after posting a 2.40 spring ERA.

Heston did not get a decision Friday after allowing one run over 6 1-3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Angels that began the overall winning streak.

The Giants won Tuesday without Angel Pagan, who leads the team with a .350 average but was scratched with a cut on his middle finger. The injury occurred Monday when Pagan stole second and his finger was stepped on.

Brandon Crawford had three hits and scored twice and Brandon Belt also scored twice. Pagan is day to day.

"Pagan needed a day and guys picked it up offensively," Bochy said.

Padres starter Ian Kennedy (1-1, 7.11) will face the Giants for the first time since suffering a strained left hamstring that forced him to leave after 2 1-3 innings in a 1-0, 12-inning loss in the home opener April 9. Kennedy has made two starts since returning, yielding five homers and 10 runs over 10 1-3 innings.

Among the 43 hitters who have made at least 20 plate appearances against the right-hander, Buster Posey is batting .405 (15 for 37) for the second-best mark versus Kennedy. Belt is 8 for 25 with 10 strikeouts in this matchup.

Kennedy has faced the Giants more than any opponent, going 9-4 with a 2.48 ERA in 21 starts.

The Padres could give catcher Austin Hedges his first career start in place of Derek Norris. Hedges, a highly regarded prospect, was recalled from the minors Monday and struck out as a pinch-hitter against Bumgarner in his big league debut.

San Diego has gone 20 innings without scoring. Norris and Matt Kemp are each 0 for 8 in this series, Will Middlebrooks is 0 for 6 and Wil Myers is 0 for 7 in his last two games.

The Giants are on their longest home win streak since a 10-game run Aug. 26-Sept.12.