Maxwell, Giants beat Padres 1-0 in 12 innings

SAN DIEGO -- The pressure for Justin Maxwell was to make the San Francisco Giants in spring training, which he did as a non-roster invitee.

So there wasn't much to stress about Thursday, when he delivered a pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the 12th inning and the San Francisco Giants spoiled the new-look San Diego Padres' home opener with a 1-0 victory.

The Giants won despite being held to six hits by six pitchers.

"My season started as soon as spring training started," Maxwell said. "I had to perform to get on this team."

The lone run came against Nick Vincent (0-1) in a rally that consisted of an error, an intentional walk and Maxwell's single.

Brandon Crawford reached with one out when backpedaling shortstop Clint Barmes dropped his pop fly in shallow left. With two outs, Gregor Blanco was intentionally walked before Maxwell, batting for winner George Kontos, singled up the middle.

"I was just trying to hit the ball hard," Maxwell said. He made some tough pitches and I faced him a few years ago so I kind of knew what he threw. When Crawford got on base there, then they walked Blanco in front of me, so I was ready to hit."

Kontos (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings.

Santiago Casilla pitched the 12th for his third save in as many chances.

The Padres had runners reach third base in both the ninth and 10th innings. Overall they stranded 10, including six at third base.

San Francisco's Angel Pagan legged out a triple into the gap in right-center off new Padres closer Craig Kimbrel leading off the ninth. Kimbrel walked Buster Posey before getting Crawford to pop up and Casey McGhee to hit into a double play.

Earlier in his at-bat, Pagan said something to catcher Derek Norris and umpire Greg Gibson warned both dugouts. Kimbrel threw a high-and-tight 97 mph fastball for ball two.

"You could tell both teams wanted it real bad," Kontos said. "Kimbrel in the ninth went out there and got in a little bit of a jam and got out of it, and we got some jams we got out of."

Padres starter Ian Kennedy left after straining his left hamstring while making a pitch to Nori Aoki with one out in the third inning. He signaled to the dugout that something was wrong, and manager Bud Black and a trainer came out to the mound. Kennedy was pulled immediately.

Manager Bud Black said Kennedy could go on the disabled list.

On his last pitch of the second, Kennedy said he "felt something grab, almost like a cramp feeling." He said the trainer tried to loosen it up but he felt it tighten again. "The whole time I felt something wasn't right. The last pitch, I didn't feel anything pop or anything but I'm not going to hurt my arm by changing my mechanics.

"I needed to stop because I wasn't putting out the same effort because I was trying to protect it. It's frustrating because I felt really good and pitching in a great atmosphere," he said.

Odrisamer Despaigne, who lost the spring training battle for the job as No. 5 starter to Brandon Morrow, retired 14 straight batters. He inherited a 2-1 count to Aoki. Aoki walked -- it counted against Kennedy -- before Despaigne retired the side. Despaigne then breezed through four perfect innings, with one strikeout.

Despaigne has an 0.36 ERA in four career appearances against the Giants. He went 2-0 with an 0.45 ERA in three starts against them last year, including throwing seven shutout innings in his big league debut on June 23.

Kennedy allowed two hits in 2 1/3 innings, with two strikeouts and two walks.

The Padres hit into four double plays, including two by Jedd Gyorko.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy said Jake Peavy told him his back feels better and the plan is to have the right-hander start Sunday's series finales, as long as there are no setbacks.

Padres: Norris was OK to start after turning an ankle in Wednesday night's loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

UP NEXT

Giants: RHP Tim Lincecum, who no-hit the Padres in San Diego in 2013 and in San Francisco last year, is scheduled to make his season debut Friday night. He was 12-9 with a 4.74 ERA in 2014.

Padres: Morrow (1-3, 5.67 ERA in 2014) is scheduled to start for San Diego.