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SAN FRANCISCO -- Bruce Bochy envisioned a disappointing flight to St. Louis that might have been if San Franciscos mistake-filled funk had extended into another day against the Oakland Athletics. Pablo Sandoval hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth, Barry Zito delivered another timely victory to end a six-start winless stretch, and the Giants beat the Oakland Athletics 5-2 on Thursday to avoid a season sweep in the Bay Bridge Series. "If this game got away from us, it would have been a long flight to St. Louis, believe me," Bochy said. "I thought today was really critical. Theres some pride involved. The last thing you want to do is get swept here in this Bay Series." A day after San Francisco made three errors and two other defensive miscues, the Giants finally got to A.J. Griffin (5-4) to snap the As six-game winning streak with their lone win in the four-game interleague rivalry between last years West division champions. Brandon Belt doubled in two runs in San Franciscos four-run sixth. Zito (4-3) won against his former club for his first victory since beating San Diego at home April 21. The Giants improved to 7-0 in his home outings and have won 13 straight regular-season games started by Zito at AT&T Park. "He was just being Zito out there," Belt said, "We needed it." San Francisco hasnt lost a home start by Zito since last Aug. 2 against the New York Mets. The Giants have won 14 straight starts by the lefty at AT&T Park when including Game 1 of the World Series last fall against the Tigers. Coco Crisp doubled among his three hits, but that was all the As could do against Zito. Yoenis Cespedes added an RBI single in the seventh, extending his career-best hitting streak to 12 games. Oakland (31-24) missed a chance to move a season-best nine games over .500 and lost for only the second time in 13 games. The As have dropped 11 of their past 14 in the Giants waterfront ballpark, which drew a sellout crowd of 41,250 for the afternoon finale. "I think our team showed a lot of fire and we were competitive," As third baseman Josh Donaldson said. "You go through a season and get tons of opportunities when you dont come through. But at the same time were playing the game right way and I guarantee you well be ready for the White Sox." The Giants lost the first three games of this Bay Area rivalry to drop the season series for the first time since going 2-4 in 2008 after a sloppy 9-6 loss Wednesday night. Sandovals hit in the sixth gave the Giants their first lead in 23 innings. "Weve been waiting on an inning like that," Bochy said. San Francisco avoided its first season sweep by the As since the clubs began playing interleague matchups in 1997. Zito faced trouble in each of his first five innings before finishing his day with a 1-2-3 sixth. He delivered just the third quality start in the past 16 by the Giants struggling rotation. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner for Oakland is 3-4 in seven career starts against his old team. "I get some juice just because its a tough team," Zito said. "Weve got a lot of talent in the Bay right now. Its good to see. We definitely know what we need to do, we have to go out there and be better on the starting side." Sergio Romo, San Franciscos fourth reliever, finished for his 14th save in 16 chances. Zito allowed a leadoff double to Crisp in the first and Jed Lowries walk before the two pulled off a double steal, but Zito then retired the next three Giants batters in order to escape unscathed. He allowed a two-out walk to Griffin -- making his first career plate appearance -- in the second then Crisps single, and pitching coach Dave Righetti paid the lefty a mound visit. Cespedes walked leading off the third, but was caught stealing. Donaldson walked, then Nate Freiman grounded into an inning-ending double play. "Amazing, really," Bochy said. "He was quite the Houdini today. I dont know how he did it." Zito walked a season-high six batters, struck out five and allowed one run and three hits in six innings. Zitos 117 pitches were his most since also throwing 117 on Aug. 6, 2010, at Atlanta. Griffin, a younger version of Zito with his similar style and big curveball, gave up four runs and five hits, struck out five and walked one in 5 2-3 innings. As manager Bob Melvin spent more than an hour in traffic Thursday morning trying to get across the bay during rush hour -- after doing the same leaving late Wednesday. "Literally the Bay Bridge Series," he said. "I was on the Bay Bridge an hour last night and an hour this morning. Quick turnaround." Notes: San Francisco CF Angel Pagan will test his injured left hamstring Friday in St. Louis with batting practice and running. He received a cortisone shot Wednesday and has missed five straight games. He could play as soon as Saturday. "Hopefully very soon. Im going crazy right now," he said. ... Giants 2B Marco Scutaro was out of the lineup with what Bochy calls "the crud" that has been going through the clubhouse. ... RHP Chad Gaudin will start Sunday at St. Louis for the Giants if not needed before, and Bochy believes he can go five or six innings considering he has 75 major league starts and has thrown 70-plus pitches. ... San Francisco RHP Ryan Vogelsong had his cast removed from surgery last week on his broken pitching hand. He is now wearing a splint and began working out again Wednesday.Discount Jordan Shoes Wholesale . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Jordan Retro Shoes Uk .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. http://www.ukairjordan.com/ . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Cheap Discount Jordan Shoes .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Nike Air Jordan Uk Store . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early.New Jersey Devils winger Taylor Hall underwent arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday and will miss three to four weeks.He had missed Tuesday nights game at Dallas with what was deemed a lower-body injury.The team said in a statement that the surgery was performed at the Summit (New Jersey) Medical Group surgery center by team physician Michael Shindle and Devils chief medical officer Jonathan Glashow. Hall was placed on injured reserve..ddddddddddddDevils coach John Hynes had said that Hall came to the rink Tuesday saying something was bothering him. He was sent home for further testing.Hall, 25, has five goals and seven assists this season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was acquired in a shocking offseason trade with the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Adam Larsson. ' ' '