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Hall's grand slam guides Brewers past Giants

Jun 20, 2007 - 11:07 PM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- Bill Hall's career day kept the Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants streaking in opposite directions.

Hall belted a grand slam in the first inning off Giants starter Barry Zito and finished with a career-high five RBI as the Brewers swept the Giants with a 7-5 win Wednesday at Miller Park.

The Brewers improved to 7-1 since being no-hit by Detroit's Justin Verlander on June 12, a loss that capped a 10-20 stretch.

"We're feeling good," Hall said. "We got no-hit about a week ago, but we've found our winning way since then. We're having fun, we're starting to swing the bats again and our pitchers are doing great. Hopefully, we can keep this rolling."

Barry Bonds reached on an error in a pinch-hit at-bat in the sixth inning, and remains seven home runs behind Hank Aaron's all-time mark of 755.

Bengie Molina hit a grand slam for the Giants, who lost their seventh straight game, including all six on their road trip.

Zito (6-8) lasted just four innings for the third time this season and gave up six runs on five hits and a walk.

The high-priced lefthander got into trouble immediately.

Corey Hart led off the first inning with a single and J.J. Hardy walked. After striking out rookie Ryan Braun, Zito hit Prince Fielder with a pitch, bringing up Hall, who drilled his second career grand slam over the left field fence.

"I was just looking to put the ball in play and I was ready to hit anything up there that was a strike and give us some runs," Hall said. "It was a lot of fun. I'm feeling good right now. It's good to have some base runners out there when you're feeling good."

The Brewers center fielder had fouled off four consecutive pitches before hitting Zito's high curveball, the ninth pitch of the at-bat.

"Billy's been putting together some pretty good at-bats for a good stretch now, since we were in Detroit," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He's been fighting off good pitches and hammering pitches he can hammer. That was a good boost to get us on the board early."

The Brewers tagged Zito for two more in the third. Hardy doubled down the right field line and Braun followed with a triple. Fielder struck out, but Hall delivered a sacrifice fly to center.

"After the grand slam, I felt better," Zito said. "It happened quickly in the first. I wanted to go out and put up a zero. I might be a little tight out there, too, but I felt pretty good. I felt pretty relaxed."

The Giants rallied off Brewers starter Claudio Vargas (6-1) in the sixth.

After Randy Winn singled, Vargas walked both Ray Durham and Ryan Klesko before serving up Molina's fourth career grand slam.

"I tried to be too fine after the base hit," Vargas said. "I tried to put the ball right on the spot. I wasn't aggressive like I was the inning before. It was a 3-1 count and I can't throw anything but my best pitch - a fastball - and he hit me."

Brian Shouse relieved Vargas and was greeted by Nate Schierholtz's single. With one out, Kevin Frandsen bunted for a hit, bringing up Bonds, who hit a ground ball to second baseman Rickie Weeks in short right field. Weeks' errant throw went to the backstop, allowing Schierholtz to score, but Frandsen was thrown out trying to score from first.

"It obviously didn't get away enough," Frandsen said. "I was trying to make something happen and came up on the wrong end."

Shouse then got Dave Roberts to ground out to end the inning. Giants manager Bruce Bochy was ejected after arguing the play with first base umpire Derryl Cousins.

"We're going bad and we know it," Bochy said. "When you're going bad, everything goes against you, too. We're not making excuses, but a call like that was huge. The call killed us. It killed the inning."

Vargas got the win despite giving up four hits and four walks in five innings.

Carlos Villanueva, Derrick Turnbow and Francisco Cordero pitched scoreless innings of relief for the Brewers. Cordero notched his 27th save.