Giants 5, Braves 2: Barry Zito took a shutout into the ninth in a dominating performance as host San Francisco won its fourth straight game.

Hector Sanchez hit a two-double during a four-run fifth inning as the Giants increased their National League West lead to three games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Zito (10-8) allowed just three hits over the first eight innings before allowing back-to-back singles to Martin Prado and Chipper Jones to start the ninth. Zito struck out five and walked three.

Zito was charged with two runs as Jeremy Affeldt entered and allowed a two-run double to Freddie Freeman. The Braves had two runners on with none out before Javier Lopez struck out Brian McCann and Sergio Romo retired Jason Heyward and Juan Francisco on infield outs for his sixth save.

San Francisco struck in the third when Angel Pagan walked against Tommy Hanson (12-6), stole second and scored on a two-out single to left by Pablo Sandoval.

The Giants piled on in the fifth with Hunter Pence’s bunt single plating the first run. A fielding error by Freeman allowed another run to score before Sanchez doubled to right to give San Francisco a five-run lead.

Hanson allowed five runs (four earned) and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings as Atlanta lost for the fifth time in six games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Giants C Buster Posey missed his second straight game with hamstring tightness but expects to play Friday. … Braves 3B Chipper Jones was honored before Thursday’s game as the current four-game series marks his final regular-season visit to San Francisco before he retires. … San Francisco placed OF Justin Christian (wrist) on the disabled list and recalled OF Francisco Peguero from Triple-A Fresno. … Heyward was rested until pinch hitting in the ninth and will be back in the starting lineup Friday.