San Francisco Giants Mike Tauchman (right) rounds third base and is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a third inning three run homer at Petco Park in San Diego against the San Diego Padres on Sun May 2, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Mike Tauchman did not want to see the San Francisco Giants get swept by their division rival before heading to another division rival to end the road trip.

Tauchman hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, giving the Giants the lead for good and the Giants would go on to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-1 at Petco Park.

Tommy La Stella got the rally started, as he hit a single that scored Curt Casali and sent starting pitcher Kevin Gausman up to second base.

Immediately following the La Stella single, Tauchman launched his first home run as a member of the Giants that gave them the lead for good.

Gausman continues to pitch well for his new team, as he went six innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking just one and striking out six on his way to his second win of the season without a loss.

Joe Musgrove, who just pitched the Padres first no-hitter in their 52-year history was roughed by the Giants, as he went five innings, allowing six runs (five earned), scattering four hits, walking two and striking out six, as his record fell to 2-3 on the season.

La Stella broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning, he tripled to center field for his second run batted in of the afternoon.

Wilmer Flores then got in on the RBI party, as he grounded out to Fernando Tatis, Jr., that scored La Stella from third base.

Tauchman added his fourth RBI of the afternoon in the top of the ninth inning, as he walked with the bases loaded to score Steven Duggar from third base.

Tatis, Jr., got the Padres on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Gausman that gave the Padres a quick 1-0 lead. It was the eighth home run of the season for Tatis, Jr.

Casali walked to lead off the third inning, then Gausman reached on a sacrifice bunt and reached, when Musgrove was unable to field the ball properly for an error. La Stella then singled to tie up the game, and then Tauchman gave the Giants the lead for good with one swing of the bat.

Gausman singled in the top of the fifth inning, and then scored when La Stella tripled to left field to give the Giants a three-run lead.

After Gausman threw 95 pitches thru six innings, his afternoon was done and Gabe Kapler turned the game over to the bullpen.

The trio of Caleb Baragar, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval went the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out three and the Giants salvaged the finale of the series and will head to Colorado with a half-game lead in the National League West over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

NOTES: With the win, the Giants avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season and also avoided being swept as well.

The Giants win at Petco Park, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers loss to the Dodgers at American Family Field, the Giants and Brewers are tied for the best record in the National League.

UP NEXT: Aaron Sanchez opens up the three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, while the Rockies will send German Marquez to the mound. Thus far this season, the Giants are 5-1 versus the Rockies and have outscored them 35-14 in the six games.