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Fielder helps Brewers topple Giants

Jul 20, 2008 - 1:02 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Prince Fielder blasted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning and added an RBI single in the ninth to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to their third straight win, an 8-5 triumph over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.

San Francisco continued its dismal play at home, falling for the 20th time in its last 26 contests here. With the loss, the Giants failed to win their first series at AT&T Park since capturing two of three games against the Philadelphia Phillies from May 9-11.

Fielder snapped a 5-5 tie in emphatic fashion to start the seventh, launching his 20th home run - a "splash hit" into

McCovey Cove in right field off Osiris Matos (0-2). It was the 100th career blast for Fielder and his second of the series.

"That ball's probably still floating out there," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Prince is really starting to swing the bat. He's freed up out there."

"That's (Barry Bonds') thing out there. That's Barry's water," Fielder said. "I grew up watching him. It's (special), especially since he's done it before many times."

Mike Cameron's RBI groundout later in the inning staked the Brewers to a 7-5 advantage, and Fielder smacked his run-scoring single in the ninth for the final margin.

"Anytime you can take advantage of the other guy's mistakes, of course that's going to help," Brewers All-Star Corey Hart said. "We've always known that we can be this type of team, but it's been hit or miss a lot this year. But we've got the guys that can put up some runs, and that gives the pitchers confidence."

Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez put on a power-pitching clinic in his first four innings by striking out eight in his first two times through the Brewers' lineup. However, the third time was not a charm for the lefthander, who left in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out before Milwaukee capitalized to take a 5-4 lead.

Randy Winn tied the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI groundout.

San Francisco rallied for four runs in the fourth. Aaron Rowand doubled down the left field line and scored on a single by Jose Castillo, who then stole second.

Omar Vizquel singled in the go-ahead run for his first RBI since July 3. After a sacrifice by Sanchez, Vizquel scored on a fielding error by shortstop J.J. Hardy, and Eugenio Velez plated a run with his second double of the game, giving the Giants a 4-1 bulge.

"We did a lot of good things early," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We had a big inning and guys executed. The things we need to do off a tough pitcher and to have a lead like that and not hold it. To be honest, what separates good teams from mediocre clubs are games like this. You have to find a way to win."

Milwaukee's Ben Sheets lasted five innings, allowing four runs and nine hits with three strikeouts. The All-Star helped his own cause, driving in the first run of the game with a two-out double off Sanchez in the second.

"When you have two guys at the top of your rotation, you've got two great chances to win a series," Fielder said. "Then after that, we've got quality pitchers also."

"He was really, really good," Yost said of Sheets. "He just left some pitches out over (the plate) and they got the head of the bat to them. I actually jumped the gun on him there a little bit (pinch-hitting for him in the fifth). In that situation, I could have very easily bunted (Sheets) there. It worked out fine."

Sanchez yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings for the Giants, who fell a season-low 17 games under .500.

"We can't make mistakes," Sanchez said. "When we make mistakes, that's what happens. You know, we lose a lot of games when we make mistakes, but we're not perfect. It's kind of frustrating.

"We want to win more games, and that was an easy game to win and we didn't get it. It's not only me, the whole team has got to be frustrated about those games."

Carlos Villanueva (4-5) picked up the win after retiring all four batters he faced, David Riske struck out three in the

eighth and Salomon Torres tossed a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Ryan Braun went 3-for-4, finishing a homer shy of the cycle.