GETTING IT DONE: Giants' Schierholtz hits game-winning triple in the 11th inning

PHOENIX Nate Schierholtz has fallen so far down the Giants' depth chart, he's at risk of getting the bends.
The outfielder from Danville hasn't started a nfl jerseys
game since July 23, and when Manager Bruce Bochy summoned him to pinch run in the seventh inning of a scoreless game Monday, he promptly got picked off first base.
But there is no place to hide in a pennant race, and no time for pity parties. And wouldn't you know it: In the end, it was Schierholtz who gave the Giants a shot to resurface as a first-place club.
His two-run triple off Aaron Heilman was the hit both teams spent all of their Labor Day afternoon working to get as the Giants emerged with 2-0, 11-inning victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
The Giants will have four cracks at the Padres beginning Thursday in San Diego. But for now, they insist they aren't hanging on every change of the scoreboard digits.
"The more we win, the closer we get, the less pressure we have," Schierholtz said. "Our chemistry is as good as it's been all year. There's a sense of excitement here instead of a sense of urgency."
For 10 innings, the Giants and Diamondbacks played scoreless and nearly flawless baseball. Both teams saved runs with diving catches, sprinted for balls in the gap and executed terrific pitch sequences to squelch rallies.
Giants center fielder Andres Torres ran longest and hardest while making several catches, including a gallop deep into left field to take away an extra-base hit from Stephen Drew.
The Diamondbacks didn't play with last-place effort, either. That much was evident in the ninth, when right fielder Gerardo Parra tore up the turf and then punched the grass in celebration after diving to catch Buster Posey's flare to strand two runners.
Madison Bumgarner impressed over 7 1/3 scoreless innings and six Giants relievers worked out of tight spots, giving the club a chance to win. They nullified eight dominant innings from Arizona right-hander Ian Kennedy, who spotted up pitches while holding the Giants to just two hits.
Really, the only embarrassing mistake belonged to Schierholtz, who stayed in the game after Bears jersey
catcher Miguel Montero caught him straying too far off first base.
"That baserunning mistake was on my mind the rest of the game," said Schierholtz, who lined out in the 10th before two-out singles by Aubrey Huff and Posey gave him a chance in the 11th. "I knew I had to keep it simple: Stay up the middle. He threw a changeup and I was able to put a good swing on it.
"I don't come to the park expecting to play, but I know I can be an important part of this team in a lot of ways."
Giants Manager Bruce Bochy didn't say anything to Schierholtz after the mistake, even downplaying it because it came with two outs and two strikes on Pablo Sandoval.
"Oh, what a huge hit for him," Bochy said. "Good for Nate. It's not an easy job he has."
Bochy's job is a little easier now that he has a full complement of relievers in a groove. After Bumgarner gave up a leadoff double to Kennedy in the eighth, Bochy went right-left-right to get the matchups he wanted.
The Giants' two trade-deadline acquisitions, Javier Lopez and Rafael Ramirez, retired two hitters with Kennedy at third base to preserve the tie.
And Bochy still had some quality arms remaining. Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt flashed plus stuff as they combined for five strikeouts in the ninth and 10th, and Brian Wilson pitched around a leadoff walk while recording his 41st save ? matching his career high.
"That's the great thing about our bullpen," Affeldt said. "I don't think we ever feel we have to Bills jersey
give in to the hitter. We have guys who've done it before. You can feel the competitiveness within this clubhouse."
A couple hundred miles down Interstate 8, the Padres probably can feel it, too.