By Jeremy Harness

AP photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija throws against the San Diego Padres in the first inning

In order for the Giants to gain some real momentum, they had to do it on this particular road trip. That’s precisely what they did.

As it stands right now, they will now board a place back to San Francisco at the top spot in the National League West, winners of eight straight contests, including all seven of their road games at division foes Arizona and San Diego.

Jeff Samardzija jump-started the Giants Thursday night, going eight solid innings and giving up only a run on three hits in the process in shutting down the Padres en route to a 3-1 victory. In addition, Samardzija (6-2, 2.66 ERA) struck out eight batters and did not walk anyone.

The Giants now sit a full three games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

The Giants got the lead early, as Buster Posey’s sac fly scored Denard Span and gave them a 1-0 lead.

The Padres, however, responded in the very next inning, tying the game on Alexi Amarista’s RBI double.

Samardzija soon settled down and shut out the Padres the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the Giants pulled away with their bats. Hunter Pence, who had homered the night before, singled in Matt Duffy to give the Giants the lead back, while Brandon Crawford’s solo homer in the seven gave them just the right amount of distance.

Second baseman Joe Panik had four hits for the Giants and also had a stolen base, while Jon Jay had two of the Padres’ four hits.

The Giants, however, face a very stern test as they head home. The Chicago Cubs, who own a 28-11 record at press time, look poised for their first World Series appearance in more than 60 years, and they will send Jake Arrieta (7-0) to the mound for the series opener Friday night against a struggling Jake Peavy (1-4).