By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Some days on the diamond are strictly for the superstars, with their big contracts, other worldly skills and myriad of ways they can affect the outcome of ballgames.

Manny Machado had his showcase Wednesday, making several nifty plays defensively along with hitting a tie-breaking home run in the sixth that helped send the Padres to a 3-1 win over the Giants.

Dereck Rodriguez delivered a fastball at the knees that didn’t initially appear to be a mistake, but Machado put a swing on it, and soon the whole park was focused on the ball’s path into the right field arcade.

“He made one mistake all day,” Machado said of the Rodriguez pitch. “I was able to take advantage.”

A home run hit to right by a right-handed hitter at Oracle Park? Yeah, that’s a rare feat with Machado becoming just the 22nd visiting hitter to do so since the park’s opening in 2000.

“I’ve hit a few balls that hit the top of that wall. I’m happy I got one over this time,” Machado said.

Machado didn’t start or stop there, throwing out a runner earlier after a bare-handed pickup, then surprising lead runner Erik Kratz at the plate with a throw across his body that catcher Francisco Mejia turned into an out with a high tag.

Then on the game’s final play Machado came up with a shoestring catch on Brandon Belt’s ball hit in front of him with a pair of runners on.

The final play typified the afternoon for the Giants: they got runners aboard, but in every case, left them stranded. Kratz should have gotten down with a slide, and other situations fizzled with poor, situational hitting.

The only Giants’ run? A fourth inning home run from Kevin Pillar.

The Giants’ expected run producers continued their struggles: Buster Posey, Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt combined to go 1 for 10, and Pillar–his home run withstanding–hasn’t quite settled in either as his batting average dropped to .140.

Rodriguez was good enough to win with any support, but instead fell to 1-2 despite allowing four hits in seven innings.

“The little things got us, that was the difference in the game,” manager Bruce Bochy said.

The Giants fell to 3-9 and haven’t captured any of their four series to date. They open a four-game set with the Rockies on Thursday at home. The Giants could see themselves out of the NL West cellar with some wins, that after they thank their lucky stars they haven’t already sunk too low.

“We’re not happy with where we’re at, but you’ve got to understand there’s other good teams that haven’t gotten off to a great start either,” Bochy said.

Jeff Samardzija looks to be part of the solution as Thursday’s starter, but he has six losses in 13 career starts against the Rockies. John Gray starts for the Rockies, he’s 0-2 heading into his third start.