By Jeremy Kahn

Trevor Brown was inserted into the San Francisco Giants starting lineup after Buster Posey was a late scratch, and the rookie made most of the opportunity to start.

Brown picked up his first two major league hits and threw out a runner, as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2 at Petco Park.

It was a run scoring double by Brown in the top of the fifth inning that gave the Giants the lead for good, and Angel Pagan added a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning.

Brown’s double scored Ehire Adrianza with the initial run of the evening for the defending World Champions, who are holding on to their playoff lives by the skin of their teeth. Coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers loss at home to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Giants are now six games behind the Dodgers with 12 games remaining in the season.

Brandon Crawford drove in the Giants second run of the evening in the top of the seventh inning, as he drove in Alejandro De Aza.

Cory Spangenberg got the Padres on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a solo home run off of reliever George Kontos.

Pagan finished the scoring for the Giants in the top of the seventh inning, as he hit his third home run of the season just out of the reach of right fielder Matt Kemp.

Brett Wallace got the Padres within two in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.

Chris Heston pitched the first 4.1 innings for the Giants, allowing just two hits, while walking five and striking out seven.

Kontos got the win after pitching 1.2 innings in relief, while Hunter Strickland, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla finished the game. It was the 35th save of the season for Casilla.

Tyson Ross pitched six innings for the Padres, allowing two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out 11 in the loss.