By Morris Phillips

Among the bullet points on the Giants’ list for ensuring playoff readiness: not blowing six-run leads or allowing opposing hitters to populate the bleachers and the right field arcade with baseballs.

Oh well for that portion of the list.

The Giants did score higher marks for winning a ballgame, getting some key hitters on track, and their subdued celebration for qualifying for the post-season one night after being blown out by the Dodgers.

It may not be ideal, but the Giants are headed to the post-season for the third time in five years.  As you probably can never forget, the first two trips worked out pretty well.

The Giants blew a 6-0 lead, but recovered to beat the Padres 9-8 on Thursday night in a wild, lengthy opener of the final series of the regular season.  With the Brewers loss to the Reds earlier in the day, the Giants knew they were in.  But winners don’t celebrate losses, and the Giants not only competed like winners they talked the part as well, courtesy of Hunter Pence.

“We got mutha….kin championship blood,” Pence boasted in a champagne-doused clubhouse afterwards.

“All of us are hungry for another one,” Pence said after he calmed down from his latest, high-octane motivational speech.  The Giants’ outfielder bit on manager Bruce Bochy’s words earlier that served as the reminder to his team that the team may not be entering the playoffs in grand style, but they remain plenty capable of a long, post-season run.

Yasmani Grandal homered twice for the Padres as they rallied to take a brief lead, 8-6 in the seventh inning, after the Giants scored at least once in each of the first five innings to lead 6-0.  The normally light-hitting Padres scored all eight of their runs courtesy of home runs with Giants’ starter Yusmeiro Petit touched by Grandal and Will Venable in the sixth.  In the seventh, Grandal greeted reliever Jean Machi with the grand slam that gave the Padres a lead, and catcher Rene Rivera followed with a solo shot that gave San Diego an ominous, two-run lead.

But the Giants struck right back in the seventh, scoring three times on four hits, with Pence’s ability to beat out a double play, relay throw standing as a key moment.  With Pence aboard, a run in and a second baserunner on third with one out, Brandon Belt singled in a run, and Matt Duffy laid down a near perfect bunt that allowed Pence to race home from third, giving the Giants the lead.

Tim Lincecum threw two pitches and retired Alexi Amarista to end the sixth and picked up his 11^th win.  At 11-9, Lincecum will almost certainly finish with a winning record for the first time since 2010.  Belt’s homer was the 68^th “splash hit” by a Giant, coming in the second inning.  And Pablo Sandoval had a 3-for-3 night, driving in four runs in the process.

On Friday night, the Giants turn to Ryan Vogelsong for the start at 7:15pm with Ian Kennedy due to pitch for the Padres.  The Giants will be looking for the 12^th win in their 14 last four home dates.