Aurilia is among several Giants veterans signed as a free agents before the 2007 season, when the team hoped one more year of Barry Bonds could lead to something big. Of course, it didn't, and now the Giants are stuck with a lot of contracts they'd rather not have.

Aurilia's is a two-year, $8 million deal that expires after the 2008 season.

He had a solid spring training, playing both corner infield positions, but he has struggled at the plate this month. Meantime, Jose Castillo started the first 22 games at third base, and John Bowker has gotten most of the recent action at first.

Aurilia started at third Thursday, giving a rare rest to Castillo, before moving to first.

His big swing helped the Giants pull off a two-game sweep and finish the three-city trip 4-3. He's still a .197 hitter on the season.

GIANTS 1, PADRES 0: Don't look now, but the Giants have beaten the Padres four of five games -- one year after they went 4-14 against the Padres, including 1-8 in San Diego. Needless to say, Tim Lincecum's shutout pitching for 6 1/3 innings and Rich Aurilia's home run were great relief for manager Bruce Bochy, the former Padres manager who was bummed last year that his old team dominated his new one.