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Dominic Smith capped a three-run third inning with a two-RBI double and Robbie Ray became the National League’s first eight-game winner as the San Francisco Giants salvaged a four-game home split against the San Diego Padres with a 3-2 victory on Thursday afternoon.

Making his second appearance for the Giants after signing as an in-season free agent, Smith had three of San Francisco’s six hits, including the biggest with two on and two out in the third.

Down 2-0 after a Manny Machado home run in the top of the inning, the Giants did all their scoring after Dylan Cease (1-5) struck out Daniel Johnson to lead off the third. Walks to Heliot Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee and a single by Matt Chapman loaded the bases for Willy Adames, whose sacrifice fly cut the home team’s deficit in half.

Following a Chapman steal of second, Smith one-hopped the fence in center field with a ground-rule double, plating both baserunners and giving San Francisco the lead for good.

Coming off his only loss of the season, Ray (8-1) overcame a two-run third to go seven innings, during which he allowed just two runs and four hits while striking out nine against just one walk.

Randy Rodriguez worked a scoreless eighth before Camilo Doval stranded runners at second and third in the ninth by striking out Jake Cronenworth for his eighth save.

Hoping to record a third victory in the series after winning both Monday and Tuesday, the Padres got the jump on Ray when Machado launched his eighth home run of the season in the top of the third. The blast also scored Luis Arraez, who singled.

Arraez had to leave the game in the sixth inning after suffering an apparent leg injury while running to first base on a ground ball.

Cease wound up going five innings, striking out seven. He gave up three runs, five hits and three walks.

Chapman had two hits for the Giants, who gave themselves a shot at a series split with a 6-5 win on Wednesday night. All four games in the set were decided by one run.

Machado and Jose Iglesias collected two hits apiece for the Padres, who out-hit the Giants 7-6.

–Field Level Media