SAN FRANCISCO — When he signed with the San Francisco Giants in the offseason, right-hander Tim Hudson recognized the power of AT&T Park.
What he wasn’t so sure about was the remaining power in his right arm.
The 38-year-old continued his turn-back-the-clock season Tuesday night, lowering his ERA through 10 starts to 1.92 with seven innings of shutout ball, pitching the Giants to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Center fielder Angel Pagan scored after each of two singles, catcher Buster Posey hit two sacrifice flies, and third baseman Pablo Sandoval drove in a run for a seventh consecutive game to support Hudson (5-2) and even the three-game series at a win apiece.
“We know what our pitchers are capable of doing,” said Giants first baseman Michael Morse, who contributed a double and a run-scoring single to Hudson’s support. “We just need to get some runs up there and they will keep us in the game.”
Or in this case, take the opponent completely out of the game, as Hudson did following a two-run Giants first inning that proved to be even more support than he’d need.
“I just go out there and try to make the guys behind me look as good as they can,” Hudson said of his error-free defense. “Getting a two-run lead really helps.”
Pitching into the seventh inning for the first time since straining his left hip May 11, Hudson allowed five singles and a double in his second combined shutout of the season. Only two Cubs baserunners advanced as far as second base against him.
Hudson did not walk a batter for the sixth time in his 10 starts, pitched at least seven innings for an eighth time and allowed two or fewer runs for a ninth time. He struck out five while pitching the Giants to their fifth win in the last six games and running his home record to 4-0.
“This is a great pitchers’ park,” assured Hudson, who became the first Giant since left-hander Dave LaPoint (1.88) to compile a sub-2.00 ERA through 10 starts. “It gives you confidence to attack the strike zone.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my season. I hope they don’t think I’m going to be this good all year.”
Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt and right-hander Jean Machi pitched an inning apiece to complete the Giants’ third shutout of the season and first since April 29.
Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta (1-1) surrendered two-run innings in the first and fifth. In his six innings, six of the seven hits he allowed were singles. He walked one and struck out six.
“He battled. He had a lot of traffic early, but he minimized the damage,” Cubs manager Rick Renteria praised of Arrieta. “But we couldn’t do anything on offense to combat that.”
The Cubs, who have alternated wins and losses in their past eight games, got a runner into scoring position with one out in both the fourth and fifth innings. But they got no farther.
“You have to tip your cap to him,” Renteria said of Hudson. “He pitched a very nice ballgame.”
Right-handers Blake Parker and Jose Veras pitched an inning apiece of shutout relief for the Cubs.
Pagan, right fielder Hunter Pence and Morse had two hits apiece in the Giants’ nine-hit attack.
Hudson had a cushion almost from the get-go.
Pagan and Pence opened the bottom of the first inning with consecutive singles. Three batters later, they both had scored — Pagan on Posey’s first sacrifice fly and Pence on Morse’s two-out single.
The Giants’ two-run fifth had a similar look. Posey hit another sac fly, scoring second baseman Ehire Adrianza, and Sandoval’s two-out single drove in Pagan to make it 4-0.
NOTES: Two scoring changes were announced from Monday’s game. Cubs SS Starlin Castro was given a hit on his groundball in the seventh inning that was originally called an error, and OF Junior Lake received a stolen base that was aided by an errant pickoff throw in the same inning. Errors were erased for Giants SS Brandon Crawford and LHP David Huff. … The Cubs were shut out for the sixth time this season. … They remained winless (0-18) when scoring two or fewer runs. … The Giants announced that broadcaster Jon Miller had been selected to the National Radio Hall of Fame. He is the only sports broadcaster in this year’s class of six. The induction ceremonies are scheduled for Nov. 8. … Plans for the renovation of Wrigley Field were announced Tuesday in Chicago. The controversial proposal, which goes before the city landmark committee next week, includes two video boards and five raised signs in the outfield — much of which will block to the view of rooftop owners. The $575 million project, if approved, is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2016. … Cubs LHP Wesley Wright was placed on the paternity list Tuesday and RHP Blake Parker was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to replace him for up to three days. Parker had eight saves and a 0.77 ERA for Iowa, striking out 15 without issuing a walk.