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Lowry pitches Giants to split of doubleheader

Aug 14, 2007 - 3:44 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Ryan Klesko hit his 10th career grand slam and Noah Lowry pitched seven strong innings as the San Francisco Giants snapped a five-game losing streak with a 10-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a doubleheader Monday night.

Barry Bonds did not play. The all-time Home Run King went 1-for-3 in the first game of the doubleheader in what was likely his final appearance in Pittsburgh, the city in which he played the first seven seasons of his career.

Klesko, who was on base three times, broke open a 1-1 game with his line-drive shot to right in the sixth on a 3-2 pitch off of Pirates starter Shane Youman (2-4).

Lowry (13-7) improved to 7-1 in his past nine starts by allowing only two runs on six hits and five walks. He struck out three.

"I had some timing and rhythm," said Lowry, who had his last start skipped due to left forearm tightness after being forced to leave his previous start August 5 after three innings. "I felt good. But defense and timely hitting was the difference in that game."

Rookie Daniel Ortmeier hit his third home run for the Giants, who stayed percentage points ahead of the Pirates with the second-worst record in the National League.

Josh Phelps hit his third home run and second in as many days and Xavier Nady and Jose Bautista also homered for the Pirates, who had tied a season high with five straight wins after earning a 3-1 victory in the first game on a complete game by Paul Maholm. Pittsburgh also beat the Giants three consecutive games the previous three days in San Francisco.

Youman, who had not started since August 2, allowed five runs on four hits and four walks in six innings. He had one strikeout. Klesko's homer came one batter after a comebacker to the mound in which the Pirates got only one force out.

"We would have been raving about this outing," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "He was out of the game surrendering one run in six innings. There was a genuine possibility of that happening."

The Giants scored the game's first run without the benefit of a hit in the first inning. Rajai Davis, who was traded by the Pirates 13 days prior, walked to lead off the game and stole second and third. The speedster was in part so eager to run because Phelps started at catcher - a position he had played only one inning at in the major leagues since 2001.

Davis, who was on base three times, scored when Randy Winn grounded out to first to make it 1-0 Giants.

"That got us going with something good," Klesko said. "After that, the guys all settled in."

Davis, who is 15-for-37 since joining San Francisco, also made a spectacular defensive play when he dove full extension into the warning track in the deepest part of the park in left-center to rob Freddy Sanchez of an RBI double. Klesko, Lowry and Giants manager Bruce Bochy each ranked it one of the top five catches they had seen in person.

"I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunity," Davis said "I'm just trying to get some good wood on the ball. When it falls in, I can't complain about that."

Phelps' homer near the deepest part of the ballpark in left-center tie the game at 1-1 in the second.

The Giants added five more runs off of reliever Masumi Kuwata in the seventh. Lowry had an RBI double and Omar Vizquel's sacrifice fly scored him. Two batters later, Pedro Feliz doubled home Davis. Ortmeier followed with a homer to right.

"We finally got the big hit," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We had been looking for it for a while. Two-out grand slam, that's always nice to get. Then we just loosened up some and the guys started swinging the bat after that."