SAN DIEGO -- On paper, this is a week that should end the Giants' very, very slim playoff hopes. They've got four games against a San Diego Padres club that dominated them at Oracle Park last week, followed by three against the Milwaukee Brewers, who seemingly don't know how to lose.

But there's still belief in the clubhouse that a run is possible, and on Monday, the group got a daunting road trip off to a strong start. The Giants hit three homers in the first inning at Petco Park and held on from there, winning 4-3 to take a second straight game for the first time in 10 days.

The lineup has struggled against lefties all season long and didn't do much against Nestor Cortes last week at Oracle Park, but they hit him so hard in the first that he probably went back to the dugout and tried

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