By Morris Phillips

For 29 consecutive innings, the Giants’ pitchers couldn’t be touched.  And for 22 frustrating innings, the Padres’ hitters couldn’t score.

Then Cory Spangenberg took “ownership” of Chris Heston and the prevailing trends changed in a hurry.

Spangenberg’s single was the first of six hits and a walk in San Diego’s five-run, third inning that propelled them to a 9-1 win over the Giants, averting a home-team sweep, and ending the Giants’ eight-game home winning streak.

The Padres top amateur pick in 2011 was part of the energy infusion manager Bud Black dialed up in an attempt to get his club to regain its stature as the National League’s highest-scoring team so far in 2015 after two humbling shutouts.  Rookie catcher Austin Hedges was the other lineup addition.

Black’s changes worked to perfection as Spangenberg came up with three hits, a walk and a steal, and Hedges’ first major league hit and a sacrifice fly produced two runs batted in.  Hedges also was Ian Kennedy’s battery mate, as the pair stymied the Giants for seven innings after which San Diego led 6-1.

“Our guys were a little disappointed the last couple nights,” Black said.  “They came out with an edge.”

The Giants had gotten big starts from Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong in the previous three games, and were looking to make it four with Heston.  But the rookie experienced a clunker engineered by the Padres’ string of seeing-eye hits in the breakout third inning.  Strategically, the Padres got the upper hand by hitting Heston’s trademark sinkers the other way with great success.

Heston could have been pulled after three, but made it through five innings without any more damage, although his final line including 11 hits and three walks surrendered wasn’t pretty.

The Giants had their chances, squandering rallies in the third, fourth and sixth innings while Kennedy appeared to get stronger.  The former Diamondbacks’ pitcher was making only his third start, but looked like he was in mid-season form, allowing six hits and a walk and one run in seven innings.

Brandon Belt came up with a pair of extra-base hits and Matt Duffy contributed a pair of singles as Bruce Bochy inserted Duffy into the lineup for the struggling Casey McGehee.  But overall, the San Francisco offense did little, increasing their dubious team-record of consecutive games without scoring more than six runs to 28.

Heston hadn’t been hit hard by any opponent this season other than the Rockies in Denver making his transition from the minors almost seamless.  But hitters have started to make adjustments, and now Heston must follow suit.  Spangenberg entered the game with two hits against Heston, then he singled in the first and third innings, making him 4 for 4 against the rookie pitcher.  While Heston has admirably replaced Peavy in the Giants’ rotation, Spangenberg was getting his shot as a replacement for the slumping Will Middlebrooks at third.

The Giants get only their second non-NL West opponent on Thursday in the Miami Marlins.  The Marlins’ Dan Haren will get the start in the opener of the four-game set with Tim Hudson set to go for the Giants.