By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giant pitcher Stephen Okert can only hang his head after surrendering a three run homer to San Diego Padre hitter Ryan Schimpf in the top of the ninth at AT&T Park on Tuesday night

SAN FRANCISCO-Ryan Schimpf put a damper on what looked like a big San Francisco Giants victory.

Schimpf hit a three-run home run off of Stephen Okert in the top of the ninth , helping the San Diego Padres defeat the Giants 6-4 before a crowd of 41,231, the 478th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Hunter Strickland was unable to close out what looked like a sure Giants victory, as he went 0.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits.

Derek Norris got the ninth inning started, as he singled, after a Alexei Amarista strikeout, Jon Jay and Luis Sardinas both singled, wth Sardinas’ single loading the bases for Wil Myers, who walked to score Jay. After a Yangervis Solarte groundout off the glove of Strickland that bounced to Joe Panik allowed Sardinas to score.

Following the Solarte groundout, Schimpf launched a three-run home run into the right-center field bleachers.

Despite the loss, the Giants retained their lead in the National League Wild Card race, and stayed within three games of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the lead in the National League West. The Dodgers were shutout by the New York Yankees 3-0 at Yankee Stadium.

Albert Suarez pitched five innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking three and striking out one, but did not fare in the decision.

Angel Pagan hit his 11th home run of the season, and his second in five games, as he hit a home run on Friday night off of Edwin Escobar of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Sardinas gave the Padres the lead in the top of the third inning, as he singled in Derek Norris, who singled, went to second on a Richard sacrifice bunt and to third on a Jon Jay single, prior to scoring from third base.

Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak up to seven games, as he doubled in Kelby Tomlinson, who reached on a Fielder’s Choice that retired Pagan at second base after Pagan singled for his second hit in three at-bats.

Clayton Richard went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits, walking four and striking out one, as his record fell to 2-4 on the season and like Suarez did not fare in the decision.

Gorkys Hernandez added to the Giants lead in the bottom of the seventh inning,man he hit his second home run of the season. Hernandez hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday night off of Jorge De La Rosa of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The solo home run was the third hit of the night by Hernandez, his third career three-hit game.