The Padres returned home from St. Louis to open Petco Park against the defending World Champions in a short two game series starting with the home opener on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day in downtown San Diego where there was a sea of navy, sand, brown, and yellow as far as the eye could see.

The Padre pageantry was on full display as United States Naval officer rolled out an American flag the size of the outfield while Jason Mraz sang the national anthem punctuated by a F-18 flyover. Then the Padres brought out players representing the 75 years of Padres baseball in San Diego.

It started with 93 year old PCL player George McDonald followed by “Downtown” Ollie Brown, Randy Jones, Gary Templeton and Mark Loretta coming from the dugout. Then suddenly Hell’s Bells echoed through the stadium and Trevor Hoffman emerged from the bullpen and made his way to the mound to throw out the first pitch. Here’s how the series panned out for the Friars in their first series at Petco.

April 6^th, 2011, Padres 3, Giants 1

WP Aaron Harang (1-0) 6IP 6H 1R 1ER 2BB 6K 0HR

LP Madison Bumgarner (0-1) 3IP 5H 3R 3ER 3BB 2K 0HR

S Heath Bell (2) 0IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

San Diego Native Aaron Harang took the mound for the home opener and did not disappoint, winning his first start of the season. Harang struck out six Giants in as many innings, pitching five scoreless after yielding a run to the defending world champions.

Nick Hundley continued his hot hitting, going three for four and raising his National League leading batting average to .533. Hundley led off the third inning with a single before being sacrificed to second by Harang.

Jason Bartlett then drew a walk before Orlando Hudson hit a bloop single to load the bases bringing up Jorge Cantu.

Cantu, getting the start against the Giants young lefthander Madison Bumgarner, launched a ball to deep left field for the sacrifice fly, scoring Hundley to tie the game.

Leftfielder Ryan Ludwick then drew a walk after going down 0-2 to load the bases. Chase Headley then walked as well bringing home Bartlett for a 2-1 lead.

Chris Denorfia then reached safely on a comebacker to Bumgarner that he lost the handle of the ball while trying to throw to first, scoring the O-Dog to extend the lead to 3-0.

As if scripted from last year, the Padres turned to the three headed hydra of Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams, & Heath Bell to close out the game. Each pitched a scoreless inning to send the fans home happy to end a beautiful day in sunny San Diego.

April 7^th, 2011 Giants 8, Padres 4

WP Tim Lincecum (1-1) 7IP 3H 1R 1ER 0BB 13K 1HR

LP Tim Stauffer (0-1) 4.2IP 8H 4R 4ER 2BB 1K 1HR

S Ramon Ramirez (1) 0.1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 0K 0HR

Tim Lincecum pitched magnificently for his second straight start, this time earning a victory fanning 13 Friars and walking none to lead the Giants over the Padres 8-4.

Big-time Timmy-Jim was spotted three runs before he even threw a pitch. Padres’ starter Tim Stauffer was able to retire Andres Torres on a flyout before the giving up a triple to Freddy Sanchez. Aubrey Huff doubled him in and then scored on Buster Posey’s home run. Pablo Sandoval then singled to complete the cycle on four consecutive batters. The hit set up an inning ending double-play off the bat of Pat Burrell.

Lincecum’s only  blemish was when Nick Hundley continued his bid for player of the week with a deep homer to left, knocking in his seventh RBI of the young season. Hundley went one for three dropping his average to .500

The Giants added a few more runs highlighted by Pablo Sandoval’s two-out single that scored two runs and put the Giants up 8-1.

Bruce Bochy brought in Brian Wilson for his season debut in a non-save situation. Wilson retired Will Venable before taking a hit ball off the foot from Alberto Gonzalez who reached safely.

Orlando Hudson then walked before Brad Hawpe singled and then reached second on Miguel Tejada’s throwing error, also allowing Gonzalez to score and Hudson move to third.

After a strikeout by Ryan Ludwick, Chase Headley doubled both men in to bring the score to 8-4 off ne reliever Jeremy Affeldt.

After a walk by Chris Denorfia and a single by Jorge Cantu, the Giants brought in Ramon Ramirez to face the tying run in pinch hitter Rob Johnson. The Padres backup catcher flew out to centerfield to end the comeback bid.