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Rowand leads Giants over Pirates

Apr 28, 2011 - 10:08 PM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Aaron Rowand went 2-for-5 with three runs batted in, as the San Francisco Giants earned a 5-2 decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the rubber match of a three-game set at PNC Park.

Pablo Sandoval also knocked in a run for the Giants, who won for only the second time in their last seven games overall.

Ryan Vogelsong (1-0), starting his first game since 2004 while with the Pirates, tossed 5 2/3 effective innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits, walked two and struck out eight. Brian Wilson recorded his seventh save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

"He did a great job, first start, happy for him, proud of him to get a win in his first start," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Vogelsong. "He did a great job."

Neil Walker finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Ryan Doumit drove in a run for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six of its last nine.

Jeff Karstens (2-1) yielded five runs -- only two earned -- on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He fanned four and walked one.

"I felt like I did alright," Karstens said. "I was off. They gave me two runs to work with and I didn't do my job."

Walker's run-scoring double in the first gave the Pirates an early lead, but San Francisco put up four in the third.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Rowand chased in a pair with a double down the third base line and Sandoval brought home another with a fielder's choice with Rowand taking third. Sandoval then stole second and Rowand swiped home to make it 4-1.

Vogelsong yielded back-to-back, one-out singles in the sixth before Doumit brought in a run with a groundout and was replaced after throwing 99 pitches -- 60 for strikes. Jeremy Affeldt came in from the bullpen and hit the first batter he faced, Pedro Alvarez. Affeldt then struck out Brandon Wood to prevent further damage.

San Francisco got the run back in the seventh on Rowand's base hit to left to make it 5-2.

Javier Lopez worked a scoreless eighth and Wilson took over in the ninth and walked the leadoff batter before striking out the next three to preserve the win.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Pirates added outfielder Xavier Paul to the 25-man roster and designated outfielder John Bowker for assignment...Karstens fell to 0-2 in three career games -- two starts -- against the Giants.