MLB: San Francisco 5, Atlanta 2

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SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Barry Zito took a shutout into the ninth inning and Hector Sanchez keyed a four-run fifth inning Thursday in bringing San Francisco a 5-2 win over Atlanta.

The Giants used four pitchers to survive a messy final inning and won their fourth straight, moving three games in front of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

Zito (10-8) allowed only three hits and struck out five through eight innings, and went to the mound in the ninth in hopes of completing a shutout.

After giving up singles to Martin Prado and Chipper Jones to start of the ninth, however, Zito was relieved by Jeremy Affeldt.

Affeldt promptly gave up a two-run double to Freddie Freeman and walked Dan Uggla.

Javier Lopez then came on for Affeldt and recorded a strikeout before Sergio Romo got the final two outs on just four pitches. Romo collected his sixth save.

San Francisco built a 5-0 lead with its four runs in the fifth, the last two coming in on a double by Sanchez.

The loss went to starter Tommy Hanson (12-6), who allowed all five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.