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Lewis helps Giants rally past Padres

Jun 2, 2008 - 12:32 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Pinch-hitter Fred Lewis belted a two-run triple to tie the game in the 10th inning and came around to score on an infield base hit by Jose Castillo as the San Francisco Giants rallied to a 4-3 triumph over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

With the win, the Giants snapped their seven-game home losing streak and avoided a sweep at the hands of the Padres. San Francisco also won for the first time at AT&T Park since securing a 4-2 victory against Houston May 13.

After Adrian Gonzalez belted a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Padres a 3-1 lead, Lewis responded with a two-run triple which bounced off the brick wall in right-center field. With one out and a runner on third, Castillo's slow roller was fielded cleanly by Edgar Gonzalez, but the shortstop did not make a play at the plate.

"Winn was running and it looked as though there was indecisiveness on what to do," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "Lewis was breaking on the play and it didn't look like he was going to have any play at home and he tried the flip to Tad (Tadahito Iguchi) and hope that the throw beats Winn - and then have Tad try to turn the double play with Winn bearing down, if indeed the throw was able to beat Winn."

Trevor Hoffman (0-4) suffered his third blown save of the season by allowing three runs and four hits in one-third of an inning for the Padres.

"I don't think it was bad luck," Hoffman said. "They put the ball in play and got hits. In Freddy's at-bat - I was able to get him two nights ago on a similar pitch and he made an adjustment today."

"Pinch-hitting is not easy for young guys, especially with the game on the line and he showed something there," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "I thought the ball was out. That's as far as you can hit a ball without it going out in this ballpark and they got a break there."

Lewis was relieved to get his first pinch hit of the season and claimed he was hitting in the cage "all nine innings".

"It's very big because we've been struggling lately," Lewis said. "It's big to get a win under our belt and we're happy to have it. I was hoping for a walk-off, but it didn't happen that way. It was great to get it against him (Hoffman) because he got me yesterday."

Alex Hinshaw (1-0) allowed two runs and two hits in one inning to pick up the victory.

Starter Tim Lincecum pitched well enough to win in this one, taking a shutout into the eighth inning before ending up with a no-decision. The 23-year-old righthander finished the day by allowing one run and four hits.

Regardless, Lincecum has excelled in the role of stopper for the Giants this season, posting a 5-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in six previous starts following a San Francisco loss. The Giants improved to 7-0 in contests started by Lincecum after a loss.

Aaron Rowand belted a solo home run in the sixth inning to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

"It's huge for us to avoid the sweep and get some momentum going into the series against the Mets," Rowand said. "The big hit was Freddie's triple. He's constantly learning."

Rowand's home run was the only blemish for starter Randy Wolf, who tossed six innings with one run and four hits, struck out five and walked one in a very efficient outing. Wolf threw 76 pitches, 53 for strikes.

"I'm just trying to see the ball and put good wood on it," Rowand said. "I'm not trying to do too much. Every time I go up and try to do too much I go over, or pop the ball up, so I'm just trying to let the pitches come to me."



Kevin Kouzmanoff walked with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to tie the game at 1-1 for San Diego, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

Brian Horwitz collected his first major league hit in the second inning in his first career start for the Giants. The rookie outfielder finished 2-for-4 and singled against Hoffman in the 10th.

"I know I can hit at this level and hopefully I can take advantage of this opportunity," Horwitz said.