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Cain leads Giants over Astros

May 14, 2008 - 5:57 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Matt Cain got it done on the mound and at the plate.

Cain tossed eight strong innings and hammered his fourth career home run to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 victory against the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

"I was a little bit wild in the first two innings," Cain said. "I just tried to make myself calm down, find that good groove that I found in the bullpen and it finally clicked in the third. I was able to go in there and throw strikes where I wanted to. (Catcher) Bengie (Molina) kept telling me to 'Stay with it, you'll be fine.'"

San Francisco wasted no time getting on the board with a three-run first frame. Fred Lewis led off with a triple followed by back-to-back RBI doubles from Omar Vizquel and Randy Winn, who scored on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead.

A three-run advantage has been a magical number for the Giants and Cain (2-3), who improved to 21-6 lifetime when the offense offers at least three runs of support.

"He got better command and stuff as he went," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said of Cain. "It looked like he was kind of finding it there the first couple innings and once he got us those innings, his stuff picked up. His command, his breaking ball, his changeup. He pitched a great ballgame."

"It's a lot of fun to catch these kids," Molina said. "They have the stuff to be dominant."

Houston got one back in the third on an RBI single from Carlos Lee, but Cain rebounded to retire 10 straight until giving up a two-out double in the sixth to Hunter Pence, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

Cain helped his own cause to start the fifth when he powered his second homer of the season to left field, staking the Giants to a 4-1 advantage. The righthander held Houston down until Lee hit a solo home run with one away in the seventh.

Cain allowed just two runs and seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. Closer Brian Wilson retired the Astros in order in the ninth for his 12th save of the season.

Brandon Backe (2-5) went six innings, allowing four runs - three earned - on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

"That first inning we really couldn't stop the bleeding," Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. "Before we knew it, it was three-nothing pretty quick. I thought (Backe) threw the ball well. He mixed his pitches well. The other guy was just pitching a lot better."

"I don't think I threw the ball horrible at all even though I gave up three runs in the first," Backe said. "They capitalized on certain pitches and got some breaks."

Lewis finished a home run shy of his second career cycle for the Giants, who have won three of their last four contests following a five-game losing streak. The 27-year-old Lewis hit for the cycle exactly one year ago against the Colorado Rockies.

Houston's Lance Berkman singled in the third to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.