SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Cain threw a one-hitter, allowing only a single by pitcher James McDonald in the sixth inning as the Giants beat the Pirates 5-0 Friday in their home opener.
Cain struck out 11 and permitted just a single runner. McDonald, a career .069 hitter coming in, hit a sharp single to left with two outs in the sixth.
Cain pitched his third career one-hitter, his fifth shutout and his 14th complete game.
"I was definitely aware of it (allowing no hits), but I'm thinking there, 'I'm behind in the count 2-1, but I'm throwing something to the outer third of the plate,' " Cain said. "He put a good swing on it. He did his job. He can hit. I knew that going into it that he can swing the bat well."
Pitching 11 days after signing a new $127.5 million, six-year deal, Cain worked ahead all afternoon and faced only one three-ball count while retiring the first 17 in order.
McDonald said he felt a little strange after his seventh career hit broke up a perfect game. "You think about, it's like, 'Man, the pitcher stood in his way for a perfect game,' " McDonald said.
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